Within the Immortal Lands, every ten steps revealed another striking vista. Azure Fire Spring waterfalls cascaded down graceful mountain peaks, clusters of wondrous silver bamboo flanked the paths, Moon Insects hung suspended in the night sky like radiant stars, and all manner of enchanting scenery abounded.
"That is merely an incomplete scripture," Zhou Rui, an old grandmaster of the Immortal Lands, warned with a smile.
Qin Ming said, "I have long heard its name. Many predecessors have spoken of it, and they considered it a lifelong regret that they could never peruse the entire text. I too am very curious, so I would like to seek the genuine scripture for a look."
In truth, who could fail to see through his intentions?
By now, many people had already guessed that he practiced the silk book method and seemed to have successfully embarked on that path.
Back then, quite a few old monsters on the Newborn path had sought to borrow and read the Golden Crow Illuminates the Night Classic, but in the end, the ancestral courts of the various teachings had only managed to copy a portion.
"Very well. Since you wish to see the original, I will have someone prepare it." Grandmaster Zhou Rui nodded. He did not make things difficult for Qin Ming, as word had already been passed in advance.
The palace where they were drinking tea was built atop elevated ground, overlooking the surrounding sights. Everything within view was poetic and picturesque, bringing a profound sense of ease and delight.
Many young faces appeared near the hall, their expressions tinged with novelty. Quite a few had come specifically to catch a glimpse of this rather legendary youth.
"He wants to read the Golden Crow Illuminates the Night Classic? Surely there is no scripture harder to cultivate than that, right?"
In the outer realm, several top-tier immortal seeds had once applied to borrow this classic, yet all of them emerged with pale faces and deeply furrowed brows after reading it.
Even many grandmasters and ancient patriarchs of the immortal path had studied this chapter carefully and reached their own conclusions. It could serve as a reference, but for young people, seeking to master it completely was pure extravagance.
"Perhaps the Golden Crow Illuminates the Night Classic is truly best suited for the Newborn path. Otherwise, why would they harbor such a profound obsession and insist on securing it?"
"Not necessarily. Our Immortal Lands once nurtured people who walked both paths at once. Several supreme eccentrics studied this scripture, yet none of them achieved anything of note."
...
Qin Ming sipped his tea in this blessed land as warm as spring, listening to the melodious, enchanting trills of spirit sparrows perched in the precious trees. Looking outside at the swirling snowflakes, he felt a unique surge of emotion.
Though both places lay within the mortal realm, the stark contrast in climate was staggering.
Around this time last year, he had still been struggling bitterly on the edge of survival, nearly freezing and starving to death in that harsh winter. Today, he was an honored guest in a blessed land of immortals.
"Yao'er, why are you daydreaming? Hurry and pour the tea," Jiang Ran said.
The white-robed girl Luo Yao had been lost in thought the entire time, marveling at the fickle nature of fate. She had personally witnessed the youth sitting quietly before her rise from the very bottom, his life trajectory undergoing a qualitative leap.
Qin Ming set down his teacup and said, "Fine tea. Before I realized it, I found myself indulging as if drinking vintage wine."
Zhou Rui chuckled. "This is a specialty of our Immortal Lands. Little Friend, since you find the taste pleasant, feel free to take a few jin with you when you depart."
Outside the palace, several core disciples were astonished. That was Silver Sprout tea, renowned across the Immortal Lands for helping one calm the mind to comprehend the Dao. It was exceptionally precious; even their annual allocation was strictly limited to no more than three jin.
Jiang Ran was also fond of tea and remarked, "The Immortal Lands' Silver Sprout paired with the Pure Land's Golden Glow makes for the finest brew. The fragrance lingers long, leaving an endless aftertaste."
She even demonstrated the tea ceremony on the spot. The boiling water leapt upward, transforming into a soaring phoenix steaming with white mist to rinse the teaware. Then, with a gentle flick of her pale hands, her movements flowed like drifting clouds and flowing water, imbued with exquisite grace.
At this time, several immortal seeds entered the palace one after another, having come specifically for Qin Ming, joining him for tea.
"Rumor has it that Brother Qin advances along two paths simultaneously and has also mastered immortal path methods. I wonder if that is true?" One of the immortal seeds could not hold back and asked openly before the crowd.
Qin Ming replied, "I have gained a modest understanding of immortal arts, but it hardly counts as mastery. Compared to everyone here, I fall considerably short."
Zhou Rui remarked, "You are far too modest. Hearing you say that makes this old man quite interested as well. I would very much like to test what your natural talent on the immortal path truly amounts to."
Evidently, that immortal seed had merely paved the way for him. The old grandmaster had come with an objective from the start: to see Qin Ming's true depth and caliber.
"How shall it be tested?" Qin Ming asked.
Zhou Rui set down his teacup and smiled. "Think nothing of it. I have no intention of prying into your secrets. You need only stand within the Hall of Harmonious Light and release a wisp of your conscious spiritual light at will."
Shortly after, they moved over to a nearby, plain gray palace.
In truth, a grandmaster of his standing could easily test Qin Ming's bone structure and aptitudes directly with a reach of his hand or an extension of his mental field. However, to avoid causing any misunderstanding with Lu Zizai and others of the Newborn path, he did not act rashly.
Immediately, the place was packed to the brim. Even the immortal seeds and descendants of path-breakers looked on with great anticipation.
Even Jiang Ran grew intrigued, personally escorting Qin Ming into the hall and having him stand in the designated area.
Dense arrays of runes were carved into the ground, weaving intricate patterns. Throughout the vast hall, strange symbols also manifested across the thick stone pillars and even upon the walls.
"Whenever you are ready," Jiang Ran signaled.
Qin Ming pondered briefly. Restraining his heavenly light, he expanded his mental field, allowing his conscious spiritual light to brim over and surge outside his body, dancing and burning like blazing fire.
"Hiss... Is that a conscious power possessing a near-pure yang attribute?" Several core disciples were thoroughly shaken; many of them had yet to reach this step.
"Try bursting forth with more strength," Jiang Ran said.
At that, Qin Ming resembled a massive ball of fire as his conscious spiritual light boiled over. In reality, it was blended with his heavenly light, but he did not care and simply let it erupt.
After all, everyone already knew he advanced along two paths simultaneously.
The originally drab gray palace instantly brightened, as golden lines snaked across the floor, the massive pillars, and the walls.
Then, with a resounding boom, the entire hall burst with dazzling, multicolored brilliance, and immortal luminescence surged up into the night sky.
Without question, the Hall of Harmonious Light existed precisely to gauge immortal path aptitude, amplifying conscious spiritual light and manifesting it clearly for all to see.
"What is happening? Has our immortal path recruited another peerless prodigy?"
Far in the distance, many people stared blankly in disbelief.
Such an immense commotion from the Hall of Harmonious Light drew the gazes of countless figures across the Immortal Lands.
"It isn't time for disciple recruitment yet this year. Did someone discover a transcendent immortal sprout and bring them back early?"
"Could this aptitude actually rival Jiang Ran's?"
Across the various spiritual mountains of the Immortal Lands, numerous experts were disturbed. Pushing open their doors, they stepped onto high peaks to gaze out, their faces filled with shock.
Several renowned elders even released their conscious spiritual light from their bodies, turning into streaks of radiance that darted swiftly across the sky to see if they might take this extraordinary immortal seed as their disciple.
In front of the Hall of Harmonious Light, everyone stood tongue-tied.
Those who had followed earlier naturally understood the situation. Could Qin Ming of the Newborn path truly possess such extraordinary aptitude on the immortal path as well?
The old grandmaster Zhou Rui was deeply stirred. "This truly is a peerless immortal seed. His potential is not a whit inferior to Little Ran's."
With his evaluation, everyone was shaken all the more. It was confirmed beyond doubt: Qin Ming's talent on the immortal path might be even better suited to him than walking the Newborn path.
"Possessing two seeds in a single body—he can truly be called exceptionally gifted."
"He really has received heaven's favor. As if gifting him top-tier aptitude for one path were not enough, it even paved another path for him. A rarity in the mortal world."
Exclamations of astonishment rang out continuously outside the Hall of Harmonious Light.
Even the descendants of path-breakers harbored mixed feelings, for the youth before them had displayed the most supreme caliber of an immortal seed.
Stirred with excitement, Grandmaster Zhou Rui then spoke with a hint of indignation, "That thousand-year-old clan—the Cui clan—weren't they just acting foolishly? They nearly ruined such a fine seedling!"
When several arriving elders learned of the situation, they too were left dumbfounded. Had this massive commotion really been triggered by someone from the Newborn path?
"In the past, there were grandmasters of two paths. In the future, there will very likely be a patriarch of two paths!" an elderly man muttered in a low voice.
Without a doubt, the stir Qin Ming created sent ripples through the entire Immortal Lands.
The great grandmasters were all far from this place and had nearly all suffered injuries, remaining in secluded cultivation. Otherwise, formidable figures would likely have arrived in person.
Only Qin Ming himself knew it was not quite as miraculous as it seemed; the heavenly light blended into his conscious power had played a role, causing the gray hall to shine so brilliantly.
Of course, he also believed his innate talent for the immortal path was indeed extraordinary.
Had his conscious spiritual light not been swallowed by his heavenly light every time it was born, he might well have produced a genuine wonder on his own by now.
Once consumed, the spiritual light naturally could not snowball and grow larger, forcing him to rebuild his accumulation from scratch every time.
Evidently, he had long been tied to the Newborn path.
Still, looking at it now, this outcome was not bad either, since his blended power could actually be deployed as conscious spiritual light.
Several more old grandmasters from the Immortal Lands arrived. Residing not far away, even though they had been heavily injured in the Western Border war, they were still drawn out by the commotion.
These elders looked on with complicated expressions. Immortal seeds could be encountered, but exceptional individuals like Jiang Ran were exceedingly hard to come by.
Right before their eyes stood one, yet he had long been branded with the Newborn path.
"No matter. In the end, he will still need immortal arts to break through. Wasn't Li Wuwei the same?" one old grandmaster murmured secretly.
Li Wuwei was Tang Jin's master—a grandmaster in the past, now a patriarch. He too had possessed two seeds, yet in the end, his Newborn path could not keep pace with his progress along the immortal path.
Qin Ming noticed many fervent gazes in the Immortal Lands, with people treating him far more warmly than before.
"Little Friend, have you ever considered coming to our Immortal Lands to cultivate quietly for a time?" an injured old grandmaster asked.
He spoke tactfully, but he was plainly trying to poach him, hoping Qin Ming would defect to the Immortal Lands.
Qin Ming knew his own situation. What accumulated within him was primarily heavenly light. If an immortal path patriarch were to emerge from seclusion and inspect him even slightly, the truth would be laid bare immediately; there would be no hiding it.
Even these grandmasters, if they disregarded decorum and examined his bones or probed him with their consciousness, would discover the reality upon careful investigation.
Therefore, he had no wish to linger here.
Qin Ming humbly expressed his gratitude, saying, "Many thanks to the seniors for your deep regard and appreciation. Junior is indolent by nature and accustomed to running wild outside. If I were truly to enter the Immortal Lands, I would likely make frequent blunders and disrupt your rules, so I had best not intrude. However, I would be delighted to exchange insights with the immortal seeds regularly in the future, and I am very willing to heed the guidance of my seniors."
The old grandmasters could only nod helplessly. Since he had politely declined, what more could they do? All of them felt quite a bit of regret.
Naturally, not everyone harbored goodwill. For instance, among the gathered elders, members of the Cui clan looked on with cold eyes.
In the outer realm, various major powers were intricately entangled, and many ancient clans and prominent families actively sent their talented scions here each year.
Having gained the favor of several old grandmasters, Qin Ming's subsequent arrangements proceeded even more smoothly.
The original copy of the Golden Crow Illuminates the Night Classic had already been prepared by the Immortal Lands.
Moreover, Jiang Ran accompanied Qin Ming, guiding him to an extraordinary and important sanctuary.
Even from afar, Qin Ming revealed a look of astonishment. In that area, immortal light cascaded like a shower of stars amid swirling white mist, and the faint sound of chanting scriptures seemed to drift through the air.
There stood an ancient tree rooted in five-colored soil. Its leaves swayed in the gentle breeze, rustling like the turning of scripture scrolls, as showers of light drifted down in waves.
It was massive, its aged bark cracked and fissured, condensing a rich aura of the Dao. Several prayer mats rested on the ground, where patriarchs occasionally came to sit in quiet contemplation.
However, following the great battle in the Western Border, they had all gone to nurse their wounds.
"This is the immortal bodhi tree, planted over two thousand nine hundred years ago," Jiang Ran introduced.
Without a doubt, this was one of the most valuable treasures in the Immortal Lands.
Among the luxuriant foliage, translucent "fruits" were visible. Among them, the snow-white "five-aperture" bodhi seeds were already considered rare treasures, capable of ensuring that one remained free from external distractions and immersed in a state of clarity.
Upon its branches hung a seven-aperture bodhi seed, which took three hundred years to produce and was now nearing maturity. Wrapped in black and white light, it could grant sudden enlightenment.
Near the main trunk, on a peculiar, tender branch, grew an egg-sized bodhi seed. Plain and lacking luster, it nevertheless possessed nine apertures.
In its nearly three thousand years of age, this immortal tree had only just produced a single half-mature nine-aperture bodhi seed.
No one could yet say just how valuable a supreme-grade bodhi seed truly was; even the patriarchs of the Immortal Lands looked forward to it with great anticipation.
Qin Ming was granted special permission to read the Golden Crow Illuminates the Night Classic in close proximity to the immortal bodhi tree. It could be said that the Immortal Lands had shown immense sincerity.
He spoke up, "Thank you!"
Hearing this, immortal patterns surfaced between Jiang Ran's brows, emitting a gentle, lustrous glow. A smile appeared on her stunningly beautiful face as she said, "Actually, I look forward to seeing just how fast you can advance on the Newborn path, and what heights you can reach."
Dressed in green robes, her figure shapely and graceful, she drifted away. As the disciple carrying the deepest immortal grace in the Immortal Lands, she seemed to have seen through Qin Ming's true foundation.
However, she said nothing more to those elders.
Qin Ming watched her receding figure and took a deep breath. Then, sitting cross-legged on a prayer mat, he opened a pitch-black beast-hide book that was plainly an ancient relic.
*Could this be crafted from immortal hide?* he mused. Ancient genuine scriptures were generally crafted from the finest materials to prevent damage.
As soon as he opened it, his mind was thoroughly captivated. Inside were densely packed golden characters and illustrations, profound and enigmatic from the very opening chapter.
As Qin Ming immersed himself, gazing at those golden glyphs on the black pages, he felt a scorching heat, as if tiny suns were truly rising to illuminate the night sky.
*Could the scripture have earned its name from this?*
Sitting on the prayer mat, Qin Ming cast aside all distractions and began studying page after page with intense focus. Immediately, he sensed the Dao charm of the bodhi tree, its hazy radiance drifting down to render him increasingly tranquil and clear of mind.
However, this boost was not particularly pronounced for him, because once he immersed himself in his own state of comprehension, he could already achieve this on his own.
Presently, he was still some distance from the parent tree.
Even Jiang Ran had to apply if she wished to sit with her back against the immortal bodhi tree, as the higher-ups worried that the power emitted by someone in sudden enlightenment might harm the nine-aperture bodhi seed on the branches.
As Qin Ming's concentration reached its peak, he resonated with the emotional fluctuations of past predecessors.
He hurriedly broke free. He had no desire to experience that agonizing pain, as though his brains were being pulverized, right at the start.
For the recorded text, he had no need to borrow the insights of his forebears; such was Qin Ming's confidence.
Up to this point, only a single scripture had ever stumped him; everything else, provided his realm was sufficient, posed no problem.
"Indeed, no wonder the patriarchs of the Newborn path have yearned for this. This scripture truly is extraordinary!" Qin Ming marveled as he read.
When studied by people of the immortal path, it could make conscious spiritual light far more concentrated, sublimating it toward pure yang.
For the Newborn path, its significance was naturally even more profound. Having heavenly light resemble a blazing sun was a goal pursued by many, and the Golden Crow Illuminates the Night Classic could amplify that transformation.
It could make heavenly light even more radiant, concentrating it to the absolute limit until it underwent a qualitative change.
In the end, should one truly master it, whether one wielded pure yang spiritual light or Rulai heavenly light, it would become far more overbearing. Who wouldn't crave that?
However, it was exceptionally difficult to cultivate. When circulated through the physical body, it scorched the flesh and blood to forge new pathways, akin to clearing virgin land in the dead of night—an arduous task.
There were even perils along the way, as though wild beasts might leap from the darkness to slaughter the pioneer.
Within the scripture, this manifested as certain areas of the body—such as apertures, or more precisely, the human body's immortal lakes and mental secret seas—suddenly surging with unknown forces that assaulted the consciousness, injured the flesh, and violently derailed the heavenly light, inflicting self-harm.
"Brilliant! What a fine scripture—it opens up so many unknown domains, well worth exploring!"
In comparison, Qin Ming had cultivated the Physical Body Chapter left behind by the patriarch of the silk book method; his body could withstand such torment, and with his consciousness blended with heavenly light, he had little fear of harming himself.
This classic was unfathomably profound. As his understanding deepened, the principles gradually exceeded his current realm, growing difficult to comprehend, so he could only commit them to memory.
Eventually, he reached the end of the relatively slim volume, where it came to an abrupt halt, clearly missing a large portion of its principles.
From the final page, it was evident that a section had been torn away. Qin Ming estimated that more than half was likely missing.
Taking a deep breath, he adjusted his condition with an air of solemn resolve. It seemed he had no choice but to resonate after all.
He wanted to reconstruct the complete Golden Crow Illuminates the Night Classic!
A moment later, Qin Ming gathered his mental field into seamless harmony and began to comprehend. Sure enough, right at the start, his head felt as though struck by an iron rod; his ears rang violently, and his vision went dark.
He had no choice but to pull back and catch his breath before continuing.
Half an hour later, blood seeped from the corner of Qin Ming's mouth, and his eyes were bloodshot from the severe backlash.
He sighed. To think that merely comprehending a scripture could bring him to the brink of life and death. He then consumed a jar of healing medicine.
On the Western Border battlefield, what he had gathered most was life-saving medicine; he had no fear of wasting it.
Thus, Qin Ming alternated between taking medicine and resonating, nibbling away segment by segment like slicing through intestines, carefully and cautiously resonating with the subsequent scripture.
It had to be said that the emotional imprint of the Dao master who left the Golden Crow Illuminates the Night Classic was truly terrifying. It drove him to ecstasy and despair by turns. When ascending to immortal bliss, he clearly saw the scripture approaching completion; when plummeting toward death, it felt like falling into hell, as if countless ferocious ghosts were tearing apart his spirit.
Having finally completed the scripture, he exhaled a long breath. He truly never wanted to relive this experience.
Yet over the next few days, he was destined to shuttle constantly between paradise and hell, repeating this process where agony and joy coexisted.
Qin Ming opened his eyes, gasping for breath, taking a long while to fully recover. He noticed an exquisite food container not far away, filled with replenishing tonics belonging to immortal medicinal cuisine.
He did not stand on ceremony, quickly devouring it all.
"How does it feel?" Jiang Ran appeared, knowing he had concluded his contemplation.
"Not bad at all!" Qin Ming nodded truthfully. He had gained immensely this time. The Golden Crow Illuminates the Night Classic was exceptionally suited to the Newborn path. When mastered to the end, the heavenly light within his body would undergo further metamorphosis, such that raising a hand to strike would resemble a Golden Crow streaking across the night sky.
"Shall we spar a bit? I comprehended it from the perspective of conscious spiritual light." Jiang Ran's smile was radiant.
"Gladly!" Qin Ming readily agreed.
From her words, he was certain Jiang Ran knew he primarily cultivated heavenly light and walked the Newborn path. Even those grandmasters were not as perceptive as she was.
When word spread that the two top-tier seeds were going to spar, an uproar erupted among the younger generation. Everyone rushed over hoping to watch, and even older figures emerged from seclusion.
However, both shook their heads simultaneously. This was a private exchange behind closed doors; they had no wish to draw a crowd.
Within a vast palace, only Luo Yao was fortunate enough to witness their debates, demonstrations, and exchanges—it was by no means an ordinary duel.
This closed-door exchange left even Jiang Ran quite astonished. She had thought that among the young and middle generations of the Immortal Lands, only she possessed a thorough understanding of the Golden Crow Illuminates the Night Classic. Never did she expect Qin Ming to hold such unique insights, having completely grasped the chapters corresponding to his realm.
Such an exchange brought her immense benefit.
In truth, Qin Ming was also inspired by her, deepening his comprehension of the classic.
Luo Yao found that she had actually "lost her job." This time, she wasn't even needed to pour tea; Jiang Ran brewed it herself, and the two conversed with great delight.
When Qin Ming finally took his leave of the Immortal Lands, Jiang Ran escorted him far beyond the mountain gates.
Luo Yao knew that Qin Ming had caught Jiang Ran's eye and earned her profound respect; otherwise, he would never have received such treatment.
For his second stop, Qin Ming went to the Hall of Immortality.
This was a very important faction of the esoteric sect, situated among continuous mountain ranges where peaks towered into the clouds, its main hall perched atop pitch-black clouds.
This visit went very smoothly. Qin Ming met with no obstruction and successfully borrowed the Classic of Tempering the Body to Unite with the Dao.
To his shock, he discovered that this genuine scripture bore a striking resemblance to the Physical Body Chapter passed down to him by the patriarch of the silk book method. As he turned the pages, he realized they truly shared the same origin.
However, the Physical Body Chapter accounted for only half of this classic; this was the original text.
Qin Ming understood. The patriarchs who researched the silk book method possessed immense audacity, drawing from the strengths of various schools and even borrowing directly from the esoteric sect.
"Even within our esoteric sect, this chapter is among the rarely sought texts left shelved on high," an old grandmaster of the Hall of Immortality sighed.
Was this scripture not powerful enough? Certainly not. It was simply too difficult to cultivate, and its ultimate path was completely different from the god-beholding and ritual offerings of other factions.
This classic spoke of slaying gods with the mortal body.
The old grandmaster spoke candidly: this was an unearthed classic, not an orthodox lineage of the esoteric sect's system. Perhaps it truly suited the domineering Newborn path.
Throughout history, many in the esoteric sect had studied this scripture. While no one who slew gods with the flesh ever appeared, there was one who had become a god through the flesh.
The old grandmaster said, "This scripture is missing its final pages, leaving it slightly flawed."
Qin Ming nodded. "Thank you for informing me, Senior. It matters not; I only seek to use it as a reference."
In reality, he was deeply excited. He had always attached immense importance to the Physical Body Chapter, never imagining that the "complete edition" could be found here!
No wonder Lu Zizai had mentioned this text to him; he clearly knew the patriarchs had studied it, yet had only obtained half the genuine scripture.
*If the old patriarchs had obtained more chapters of the Classic of Tempering the Body to Unite with the Dao, their issues with bodily detonations might not have been so severe.*
Qin Ming's spirit suffered immense torment, fluctuating between ecstasy and agony, until he finally relaxed completely and took his leave, fully satisfied.
During this time, the esoteric sect's old grandmaster had nearly tested whether Qin Ming possessed boundless divine wisdom, sensing that he seemed suited for the esoteric sect path as well and might be a divine seed.
However, Qin Ming was so immersed in studying the scripture that the elder felt embarrassed to interrupt.
That same day, Lu Zizai appeared to accompany Qin Ming toward their third stop—the Outer Pure Land.
This place was rather special, as Cao Qianqiu and Sun Taichu were both here.
Although Old Cao was crippled, Lu Zizai accompanied him just in case.
At the same time, the Outer Pure Land was the headquarters of the Yuxian Sect, and the Helian family was also based here.
In addition, many of Qin Ming's old acquaintances were present, such as Li Qingyue, Li Qingxu, Cui Chonghe, Wang Caiwei, Zheng Maoze, Chen Bingyan, and others.
Furthermore, figures like Tang Xumi, Pei Shuyan, and Helian Yaoqing were there as well; immortal seeds were plentiful in the Pure Land.
"Here, this is the Sky-Severing Saber Technique." Lu Zizai handed over a saber manual.
"Senior Brother Lu, I also have an important scripture to give you!"
Shortly after, Lu Zizai was thoroughly stunned: Qin Ming actually had the complete Golden Crow Illuminates the Night Classic!
That day, as the two arrived at the Pure Land, they saw many people coming out to greet them.
Chapter 340