Interest

"Bearing a Dao artifact, showing traces of having mastered multiple supreme divine abilities, carrying an aura seasoned by no more than sixty years, and seemingly possessing a unique constitution with supreme affinity for the void... Blessed with opportunity, comprehension, and talent, it is only natural you would invite jealousy and an endless stream of trouble." The woman spoke placidly. These words, which seemed to strip him bare at a glance and lay all his secrets open, instantly made Yaoguang's heart clench. Her facial features were merely above average, yet her skin was as cold and white as jade, and her demeanor possessed an indefinable, chilling aloofness. More than that, as she stood there, her every movement, her every word, seemed to embody the ultimate harmony with heaven, earth, and nature itself. Anyone beholding her would feel that this was precisely how a human being ought to act and carry themselves. Whatever she did served as the benchmark for all living beings to emulate. This miraculous quality of being in absolute harmony with the outside world—or even bending the surrounding heaven and earth to align with her—coupled with her seeing through nearly all his secrets at a single glance, and her silent appearance without alerting him in the slightest... It immediately gave him a guess as to her identity that was hard to believe, yet perfectly fitting. "Could it be... that I stand before Dao Lord Penglai?" he asked, cupping his hands. "Correct. This is an avatar I have manifested," the woman answered calmly. Her demeanor remained as aloof as ever. 'It really is...' Yaoguang felt a chill of awe inside. Dao Lord Penglai! Even though it was only an avatar, she had appeared by his side without his realizing it, and he had no idea how long she had already been there. In other words, as long as she did not wish to be found, he could spend an entire lifetime and never hope to locate a Dao Lord. This... This was merely the wonder displayed by an avatar. Just how mighty would a true Dao Lord be? A manifestation of the Great Dao? Would standing before a Dao Lord's true body be tantamount to comprehending the Great Dao itself? One had to realize that even figures as powerful as Void Shattering experts could only shatter the void using the Dao techniques they had mastered to "see" the three thousand Great Daos borne by the void. Only then could they comprehend and cultivate them step-by-step. If, one day, they reached complete comprehension of such a Great Dao, they could attempt to merge with the Dao in body and spirit, attaining the rank of Dao Lord. Yet across the world, Void Shattering cultivators were legion, and never mind whether one could achieve complete comprehension of a Great Dao—even among those who did, ninety-nine percent fell at that final hurdle of "merging with the Dao." They were directly assimilated by the Great Dao, reduced to mere cogs in the workings of all creation. How much more daunting was this step compared to going from Golden Core to Void Piercing? Yet right now, Yaoguang—who had never even laid eyes on a Void Refining or Void Shattering expert—was standing face-to-face with a Dao Lord! Even if it was merely an avatar... it was still a Dao Lord! A genuine entity standing atop the pinnacle of Beihai. Every single one was a supreme hegemon capable of founding a sect on par with the Ten Immortal Sects. "You possess a special constitution, making reaching the Void Piercing Realm easier for you than for others. Taking that step is no difficult feat for you. However... I believe that if you wish to resolve your troubles with the Heavenly Dao Sect and Taiyi Immortal Sect, breaking through into the Void Piercing Realm and slaying the Void Piercing elders outside Biyou Immortal Market is not the best course of action." The woman... Dao Lord Penglai continued, "Void Piercing elders are high-ranking figures in any faction. Killing them would thoroughly offend both the Heavenly Dao Sect and the Taiyi Immortal Sect. For the sake of sect face and territorial interests, they cannot sit idly by. They would inevitably dispatch Void Refining experts to hunt you down, and Yuhuang might even strike against you in person. Even if you possess monstrous talent and continue breaking through to kill them all, both sects still have Dao Lords standing behind them. Could you kill the Dao Lords behind those two sects as well?" Yaoguang naturally understood this logic. Previously, he had possessed few alternatives, but now that Dao Lord Penglai had sent an avatar here specifically... "Please enlighten me, Dao Lord," Yaoguang said, cupping his hands. He had no choice but to listen. Before a Dao Lord, none of the means at his disposal meant anything. "Become a true disciple of the Heavenly Dao Sect." Dao Lord Penglai directly stated an option Yaoguang had discarded to the back of his mind long ago. Beneath his somewhat startled gaze, the supreme expert said placidly, "Become a true disciple, break through to the Void Piercing Realm in one fell swoop, vie for the position of Heavenly Dao Sect vice sect master, and then... become the sect master, taking full control of the Heavenly Dao Sect. When that time comes, your issues with both the Heavenly Dao Sect and the Taiyi Immortal Sect will be effortlessly resolved. Moreover... if you can truly pull this off..." As though picturing an entertaining scene, a faint smile actually surfaced on the Dao Lord's aloof face. "The reactions of those currently hunting and persecuting you will surely be quite amusing." Yaoguang glanced at the Dao Lord... He had a faint sense that the reason she had turned her attention to him might have to do with parallels in their experiences. Joining a major sect, harboring secrets, being hunted down... Yet blessed with extraordinary talent, growing stronger with every battle. So, did she simply want to watch a good show through him? However... "I'm afraid I cannot participate in the Heavenly Dao Sect's true disciple assessment," Yaoguang said. "You would not be taking the true disciple assessment," Dao Lord Penglai said. "The Heavenly Dao Sect differs fundamentally from other top factions in one major respect: the Golden Book of the Great Dao!" "The Golden Book of the Great Dao?" Yaoguang's heart stirred. That Dao artifact... It was left behind by the Heavenly Dao Sect's founder, Daoist Venerable Hongmeng, a Dao artifact possessing an artifact spirit. Across countless years, every Dao Lord produced by the Heavenly Dao Sect had imparted their own Dao power into it. After layers upon layers of refinement, no one knew just what level of power this supreme treasure had attained by now. "The Golden Book of the Great Dao does not interfere with the sect's daily operations, but no one can violate the rules inscribed upon it. Those rules do not exist to restrict, but to provide a baseline guarantee for the Heavenly Dao Sect's inheritance. And regarding sect inheritance, the two most critical aspects are the true disciples and the sect master," Dao Lord Penglai explained. "The rule concerning true disciples is very simple: any inner disciple who can defeat all current true disciples automatically gains the status of a true disciple." "Defeat all true disciples?" Yaoguang's expression grew slightly solemn. He remembered that the Heavenly Dao Sect's rule required being ranked first among inner disciples before one could challenge the eighty-eight true disciples... Yet thinking on it carefully, he understood. Those rules were clearly established by the rulers of the Immortal Lineage, differing from the fundamental rules recorded in the Golden Book of the Great Dao. And according to the logic of the Golden Book of the Great Dao, if an inner disciple could sweep aside all true disciples, who else could be considered a true disciple if not him? "Second: upon advancing to the Void Piercing Realm, any true disciple assumes the title of junior sect master, enjoying the standing of a vice sect master. If they can attain the Void Refining Realm within a thousand years, they are automatically promoted to vice sect master." Dao Lord Penglai said, "Unlike ordinary Void Piercing elders, if any junior sect master suffers unjust persecution within the Heavenly Dao Sect, they possess the authority to petition the Golden Book of the Great Dao directly for arbitration." Junior sect master. Generally, this referred to a successor to the sect master's seat. However... In top immortal sects, junior sect masters were usually rather numerous. "If you truly possess sufficient ability and talent, once you become a vice sect master, you may display your capabilities to the fullest. When you attain the Void Shattering Realm, the previous sect master automatically abdicates, and you will become the sect master of the Heavenly Dao Sect." Having said this, a faint smile returned to Dao Lord Penglai's aloof face. "I am very interested in seeing what that scene looks like." Yaoguang did not immediately reply. He had heard of the rules and wonders of the Golden Book of the Great Dao. The reason he had chosen to enter the Heavenly Dao Sect in the first place had been precisely because of the baseline guaranteed by the Golden Book of the Great Dao. If everything Dao Lord Penglai said was true... Imagining the scene of himself sitting upon the throne of Heavenly Dao Sect master one day... He smiled as well. "What a coincidence. I am quite interested in that scene myself." "It seems you have plenty of confidence." Dao Lord Penglai looked at him. From an Azure Blue Golden Core... Well, breaking through to the Void Piercing Realm should not be difficult for this young fellow named Yaoguang. Yet going step-by-step from Void Piercing to Void Refining, vying for the leadership of a top immortal sect, and becoming the head of one of the world's mightiest institutions presented incomparable difficulty. Even though the opportunities, comprehension, and talent Yaoguang had displayed thus far were quite impressive, she still did not hold out excessive hope. After all, not everyone possessed opportunities and talent equal to her own. Yet seeing his confident demeanor... She could not help but feel a touch more anticipation. "Give it a try?" she asked. "I'll give it a try," Yaoguang nodded. "Though I will need a bit more time." With his current strength, sweeping through the Heavenly Dao Sect's eighty-eight true disciples to claim true disciple status was still slightly beyond his reach. "Being steady and prudent is indeed wise." Dao Lord Penglai retrieved a jade talisman. "This jade talisman records two secret arts. One of them is the Dongyuan Technique. Advancing to the Void Piercing Realm from an Azure Blue Golden Core differs from cultivating the path of a Void Piercing Battle Immortal. A Void Piercing Battle Immortal cultivates primordial cavity power, whereas a true Void Piercing cultivator cultivates grotto-heaven power. A difference of a single word, yet worlds apart. The key to opening a grotto-heaven lies in doing so in one concerted surge. Cultivating the Dongyuan Technique will allow you to simulate every aspect of opening a grotto-heaven in advance, enabling you to complete the opening in an instant and step into the Void Piercing Realm..." Pausing briefly, the Dao Lord added, "However, this secret art is not easy to master. Whether you can succeed depends on your comprehension." "Dongyuan Technique." Yaoguang looked at the secret art. Countless secret arts and records concerning the Void Piercing Realm flashed rapidly through his mind. That vast expanse of knowledge was as boundless as the sands of the Ganges. Normally, searching through it would cost unimaginable time and effort, but with "Dongyuan Technique" as a key term, he quickly located it. As he rapidly digested the technique... Mm, mastered. "Thank you," Yaoguang said as he accepted the jade talisman. "Besides the Dongyuan Technique, it also contains a supreme divine ability along with its complete Dao technique and Dao charm! The Dao technique points straight to origin, belonging to the Great Dao of Origin. At the stage of the supreme divine ability, it can enhance your origin by fifty percent—meaning once your Azure Blue Golden Core reaches its limit in capacity, it will expand by another fifty percent. That should make sweeping the Heavenly Dao Sect's eighty-eight true disciples well within your grasp." 'A divine ability, a Dao technique, and Dao charm?!' Yaoguang was secretly astounded. Purchasing such a complete set externally would probably cost tens of millions of Pure Yang Great Pills! Yet this Dao Lord had simply offered it up. Furthermore... The Great Dao of Origin?! Dao Lord Penglai had actually merged with this Great Dao? No wonder she had battered the Tianhai Sword Pavilion into locking their gates, earning the quiet reputation of Beihai Star's foremost expert. The Great Dao of Origin possessed just such power. "Through a void formation, you can bypass the journey from Biyou Immortal Market to the Heavenly Dao Sect and arrive directly at its gates. Furthermore, this power will trigger a reaction from the Golden Book of the Great Dao." With a wave of Dao Lord Penglai's hand, a formation exuding exceptionally stable void fluctuations was engraved upon the training square. "I look forward to your performance." With that, her avatar dispersed like a streak of clear light, vanishing without a trace.