At the summit of the grave mound, beneath the Vajra treasure tree, Qin Ming sat cross-legged. Wu Yaozu and Xiang Yiwu stood quietly to his left and right like two guardian protectors.
Luo Jingxiao knelt prostrate on the ground, looking as if he had thoroughly submitted.
This was not his intention in the slightest, yet he could not stand up. His knees were completely beyond his control. How would the people below the mountain view him now?
Luo Jingxiao felt utterly humiliated, trembling all over with rage. How had things suddenly turned out like this?!
*Did I suffer a "Dao wound"?* he suddenly realized what had truly happened.
In a sense, having been struck and injured by Daoist charm, it could indeed be termed a "Dao wound," which would be exceedingly troublesome to treat.
Once he understood the truth, Luo Jingxiao nearly went berserk. He had merely been attempting to comprehend a scripture—how could he be injured from just that? Where was the justice in the world?
Outside the grave mound, quite a few people were using memory crystals to record the scene atop the summit.
Seeing their companion behaving so disgracefully, Helian Zhaoyu and Wei Cheng wore grim expressions. They wished they could charge up the mound and kick him down themselves.
In truth, many nearby were sizing them up with peculiar glances.
Atop the grave mound, the phenomenon was extraordinary. Beneath the sixteen-foot Vajra tree, golden mist swirled, framing the seated figure like a youthful Heavenly God.
Seeing this scene, Pei Shuyan, Cui Chonghe, and the others were also somewhat astonished.
"Did he truly comprehend it?" whispered Cheng Sheng, a leading figure of the esoteric sect. He too had climbed the mound before, but had only managed to decipher a few scripture fragments, finding them exceedingly obscure and difficult.
"His comprehension is quite impressive," murmured Jiang Ran, clad in azure robes, as she calmly appraised the wondrous sight atop the summit.
Beside her, the white-clad girl Luo Yao said in a small voice, "Sigh, in the end he's going to turn around and tease me again. Could it be that an endless expanse of mountains and seas really lies between us?"
Yao Ruoxian, the prince of Great Rui, and others all showed shock on their faces. They had climbed the mound more than once, and while they had gained something, it had never been accompanied by such an anomaly.
Disciples of the immortal path, successors of the esoteric sect, and young nobles from the three great dynasties—the gazes of all were drawn toward the peak. None had expected that a youth from the Newborn path would be the first to make a breakthrough.
For the first time, those from other paths learned that Qin Ming's comprehension was so astonishing.
However, many believed that the Newborn path had a severe defect—cultivation was painfully slow, and personal comprehension alone did not seem enough to resolve that.
Thinking of this, quite a few felt somewhat reassured.
The black-clad youth Wei Cheng had a cold look in his eyes. With no need to hide his feelings before his own people, he said, "It's useless. The flaws of the entire Newborn system are plain to see. He lacks the talent for the immortal path, so no matter how hard he tries, he won't be able to catch up."
He currently stood at a higher realm and possessed deeper cultivation than Qin Ming. In his eyes, Qin Ming was destined to trail far behind, until even catching a distant glimpse would become impossible.
Qin Ming marveled internally. This true scripture was vast and profound, truly extraordinary, feeling exceptionally abstruse even to him.
"There's more left to ponder. It seems there are other subtleties," he murmured as he sat beneath the tree, carefully turning it over in his mind.
"Brother Ming, did you comprehend the whole thing?" Wu Yaozu asked.
"I did gain something. I'll compare notes and spar with you two later," Qin Ming answered with a smile.
Xiang Yiwu looked solemn. "This scripture must be extraordinary—priceless beyond measure."
Although Qin Ming had resonated with the tree, he had only extracted the text this time without touching anything else. He had discarded even the Daoist charm to avoid any backlash, fearing those fist intents and finger impressions might erupt.
He pondered that this scripture could perhaps be verified against the Physical Body Chapter passed down by the patriarch of the silk book method, allowing them to be cultivated together.
The scripture carried connotations of immortality and indestructibility, and it guarded the Vajra treasure tree, so he temporarily named it the *Vajra Scripture*.
Qin Ming stood up and looked at the sixteen-foot-tall golden ancient tree before him, feeling a surge of longing. The fruits hanging from the branches were enticingly ripe, containing inner Vajra Qi.
"Huh? After obtaining the scripture, I can get a bit closer to the trunk?" A look of delight crossed his face.
In fact, by the end, he broke through the golden light barrier and touched a branch.
Qin Ming tried to pluck a fruit, but was met with a barrier of ripples. Runes flashed, throwing his hand back, though without injuring his flesh.
In an instant, he opened his Eye of the Newborn and saw the truth, his mood souring immediately.
The treasure tree was luxuriant with foliage, bearing dozens of fist-sized golden fruits. However, the nearby branches were all carved with minute runes, protecting and isolating the Vajra fruits.
Qin Ming realized this must be the handiwork of experts from the immortal path.
The most valuable precious medicine on this grave mound was actually barred from being picked.
Xiang Yiwu and Wu Yaozu were also trying hard, hoping to touch a Vajra fruit, but failed every time.
"Why are these branches so hard?" Xiao Wu pulled forcefully to snap a branch, but failed to break it. In his frustration, he stripped off a handful of golden leaves.
Xiang Yiwu popped a golden leaf into his mouth. With a few crunches, he chewed it to pieces, and immediately, radiant mist filled his mouth. His eyes widened in surprise. "These leaves are of great use! Their medicinal potency is immense—they can help temper the body!"
With that, they went to work.
Wu Yaozu and Xiang Yiwu discovered that they needed to stay close to Qin Ming; otherwise, the golden light barrier would block them from approaching the tree.
Outside the grave mound, an esteemed senior standing guard heard the crowd cry out in surprise. He hurriedly looked up, and his eyes went wide. Hadn't restrictions been placed around the Vajra tree? How could those three youths still get close to it?
In just this short while, the leaves on the outer branches of the Vajra treasure tree had nearly been stripped bare by them.
"Stop! Do not harm the treasure tree!" he yelled hurriedly.
"Weren't we told earlier that it's every man for himself, and we could gather spiritual medicine as we pleased?" Qin Ming called down from the mountain.
"The Vajra fruits are too advanced for you, and refining them into medicine yields far better effects!" the old man shouted back. The fruits had been left there partly to motivate the youths, and partly because the alchemists were not yet prepared.
In truth, this was a great medicine prepared for high-level cultivators.
"I think consuming the fruit directly while practicing the *Vajra Scripture* would yield even better results," Qin Ming sighed softly.
However, all the Vajra fruits were protected, and even though he was merely plucking golden leaves, the senior below was already growing frantic. He was already rushing in to protect the tree.
When the senior of the immortal path stormed up the mound, his facial muscles twitched. The outer branches of the entire treasure tree were bare. The three youths bulged in every pocket and fold of their clothes, clearly stuffed full of leaves. Golden light radiated from their bodies, and when they grinned, golden mist even puffed out of their mouths.
Evidently, the trio had taken advantage of their final moments to pluck with all their might!
Worst of all, that handsome youth was even shouldering an arm-thick branch taller than a man.
Meanwhile, the short-haired youth and the Tathagata renegade each gripped a slightly thinner branch, both four feet long.
Qin Ming had hacked these down using his small exotic metal sword, white as mutton-fat jade. Since the fruits could not be harvested, taking the branches was the next best thing.
"Senior, you called out a bit too late; we had already started. Don't worry, we'll clean up the place nicely."
Moving swiftly, the three picked up the dozen or so golden leaves that had fallen to the ground from their vigorous plucking, leaving not a single one behind.
"Senior Lu Zizai told us to return early. Let's get going," Wu Yaozu said.
The old man was pointing a finger at them, about to say something, but swallowed his words upon hearing that name. He could only watch as they descended the mountain.
Finally, he looked down at Luo Jingxiao and asked, "What happened to you?"
"Senior, I suffered a Dao wound."
The old man snapped in annoyance, "Dao wound my foot! You were just comprehending a scripture, not fighting on a battlefield!"
Luo Jingxiao wished he could bash his head against the ground in shame and indignation.
"Wait!" The old man suddenly caught sight of golden mist puffing from his mouth as well.
"Senior, that bald guy stuffed a leaf into my mouth!" Luo Jingxiao quickly explained.
Back then, Wu Yaozu had told him this was a Vajra medicine that nourished the flesh and could help his missing teeth grow back.
In an impulsive daze, Luo Jingxiao had quietly chewed the leaf and applied it to the injured areas inside his mouth.
Only now did he realize: if blame were assigned, that damn bald punk wanted him to share the fall!
The infuriating part was that the bald rascal had only fed him a single leaf to drag him into the mud! Who did he think he was looking down on? If the punk had the guts to stuff his entire mouth full, he might have accepted it!
When the old man carried Luo Jingxiao down the mountain, not only did he notice the strange looks cast his way by the onlookers, but he also caught sight of his two good brothers' backs.
Helian Zhaoyu and Wei Cheng hadn't even waited for him; they were walking off into the distance.
A surge of fury welled up in Luo Jingxiao's chest. His legs were incapacitated, yet those two couldn't care less about him?
In that moment, resentment gnawed at his heart, and all sorts of wild thoughts sprang up. He even thought that he might as well just cozy up to Qin Ming and his group instead.
As Qin Ming and the other two came down the mountain, they naturally drew widespread attention. The golden sap oozing from the cut ends of the Vajra branches gave off a rich, intoxicating fragrance.
Without anyone having to say a word, people knew this was a rare precious medicine, perhaps barely inferior to the Vajra fruit itself.
Qin Ming spoke up, "Seniors, I have gleaned a few insights and would like to consult you all to see if my understanding is flawed."
He looked toward the elders of the Yinyang Daoist Temple, Five Elements Palace, Six Imperials ancestral court, and other sects. Not long ago, these people had publicly nodded toward him, signaling their support.
Now, he intended to return the favor.
Of course, he did not dare transmit the complete *Vajra Scripture*; doing so would be impossible to explain.
It was enough to arrange most of the "pearls of wisdom" in proper order, along with a few foundational threads to connect the teachings. Sect-founder-level figures should be able to deduce the rest and fill in the blanks in the future if they studied it carefully.
The look in everyone's eyes shifted. He was offering a tremendous gift!
Just moments ago, everyone had witnessed the wondrous spectacle atop the grave mound and knew his gains had to be substantial.
"This... even this old man feels a bit embarrassed to accept."
"Only through greater exchange can the Newborn path progress further. I ask for your guidance, Seniors," Qin Ming said, welcoming them.
Catching sight of Jin Xiang in the crowd—who had tempered his heart in the mortal world for twenty years—Qin Ming called him over as well and asked, "Senior Brother, how have your gains been recently?"
Jin Xiang said, "I'm over thirty-five, so I'm currently waiting. In a few days, other great mounds should open."
"Master Wu, and... Big Tang, would you like to join the exchange?" Seeing Tang Jin and the others, Qin Ming extended an invitation to them as well.
Back in Kunling, Tang Jin had directly taught him how to cultivate Planting Immortal Lotus in Heavenly Light. And now, facing a colossus like the Helian family, they hadn't distanced themselves to avoid suspicion either, still walking beside him.
"He didn't call me Old Tang, but what does he mean by Big Tang?" Tang Jin muttered to herself, still feeling like she was being addressed as old.
"The word 'Big' is probably meant as a sign of respect," Ling Yu interpreted solemnly.
Tang Jin nearly struck his head with her pale fist. "You're my junior brother, yet you help him pull the wool over my eyes!"
A group gathered around Qin Ming as he used his conscious spiritual light to transmit the scripture to them one by one.
"This true scripture shares great karmic affinity with our sect!" An elder of the Rulai Sect was the most excited, sensing that the *Vajra Scripture* aligned remarkably well with their path.
These elders stared at Qin Ming as if looking at a monster. The scripture teachings this youth had obtained were even more comprehensive than what they had gleaned when sneaking in before. They all felt he surpassed the rumors to an absurd degree!
"Little Qin, you must keep yourself safe. With your aptitude, you are bound to become another new patriarch of our Newborn path in the future. You must not take risks right now."
Several old men spoke with earnest concern.
"Furthermore, you are very likely to become a peerless powerhouse. You have a chance of stepping into the seventh realm, becoming someone like old Helian..."
In a place like this, it was not quite appropriate to utter the words "old monster."
An elder from the Six Imperials ancestral court spoke up, "Judging by the current exploration, there are three great mounds whose manifested scriptures are most suited for our Newborn path."
The elder from the Yinyang Daoist Temple immediately nodded in agreement. "A patriarch personally studied them. The immortal Daoist charms contained within the three great mounds share the same lineage, appearing more like a single scripture divided into three parts."
Qin Ming was startled to hear this and asked, "There's such a thing?"
"Indeed. The scripture you obtained is one part from those three great mounds," the Rulai Sect elder nodded.
Moreover, he pointed toward the three great mounds, revealing that the Daoist charms there were all related to body tempering.
"Those of the immortal path studied them even more thoroughly. They believe that among the individuals buried in the three great mounds, two were supreme drudges who exchanged their divine bones and patched their immortal skin, while the third was a top-tier powerhouse of the immortal path who took the initiative to switch to the path of the drudge."
"A single scripture divided in three could produce three supreme powerhouses—one can easily see how extraordinary this cultivation technique is."
"Some even believe that if the three scriptures were united into one, it would not necessarily be inferior to the true scripture inside the main tomb."
"A scripture of the main tomb grade!" Qin Ming was stunned, and his interest was immediately piqued.
However, he was told that those two great tombs had not yet been opened to the younger generation, though it would likely happen soon.
Over the next few days, Qin Ming practiced the *Vajra Scripture* diligently, tempering his physical body.
Sure enough, five days later, the other two great tombs opened as well.
...
That evening, in the woodlands beside the airship outside the mountain city, Qin Ming and Li Qingyue walked side by side.
"This pioneering effort seems peaceful on the surface, but immense danger likely lurks underneath. A major crisis might erupt. When the time comes, stay by my side. The Eight Trigrams Furnace can ward off disaster for us."
Chapter 301