Volume One, Chapter 19: The Scripture of the Heavenly Dao

Three days later, a figure appeared outside the attic.

Staring at the tightly shut attic door, Su Li couldn’t help but clench her fists.

She had been here before, and at that time, she was told she could only leave after reading all the books on the three floors. She feared she would never forget the torment she endured then, thinking she might never escape from within those walls for the rest of her life.

Unexpectedly, she had managed to come out after only half a month, realizing that everything was meant to forge her spirit.

Now, seeing the door closed, Su Li naturally guessed that Jiang Mu had already entered. She couldn’t help but feel worried for him.

At the same time, she was curious: with her modest Tri-Color Saint-level talent, the trials she faced were already so severe—what kind of tribulations would Jiang Mu encounter?

So, Su Li quietly waited outside the attic.

Inside the attic, Jiang Mu had reached the fifth floor. Just waking from a nap, he picked up a few scattered scrolls, glanced over them briefly, then tossed them aside.

He had finished reading them all!

After checking carefully and confirming nothing was missed, Jiang Mu stretched and stood up.

He no longer looked like a youth; instead, he resembled an elderly man in his twilight years. His beard and hair had grown long enough to reach his feet, and his posture was slightly hunched. Yet, his eyes retained the clarity and calmness of someone newly arrived in this place.

The next moment, the world spun wildly before him. When Jiang Mu’s vision cleared, he found himself in a new realm.

It seemed to be the attic rooftop, inside an ancient wooden house suffused with a faint scent of sandalwood.

As soon as Jiang Mu appeared, a child stepped close to him, examining him carefully. After a long moment, the child sidestepped and muttered to himself in a tone full of worldly wisdom.

“Freak, freak. I have seen countless geniuses, but none have achieved what you have—not only with exceptional comprehension but also with unparalleled temperament. Boy, I must say, I’ve grown fond of you!”

Jiang Mu was about to proudly retort that it wasn’t talent but the child’s old-fashioned tricks, but before he could speak, he choked on his own saliva, startled by the sudden confession.

“Se... Senior, isn’t this unnecessary? Since I have passed your test, may I know what else is required of me?”

Though Jiang Mu understood the deeper meaning behind all the arrangements, the experiences were real and tangible. The fifty years he had spent inside the attic were endured day by day. Talent might grant shortcuts in some matters, but the sacrifices were never insignificant.

Though still a youth in appearance, Jiang Mu’s temperament had grown increasingly steady.

Having lived twice, he understood better than anyone else.

Talent and background were important, but effort was indispensable.

Seeing Jiang Mu’s composed demeanor, the child nodded in approval, cleared his throat, and spoke slowly.

“Indeed, you are a promising seedling. Now you are worthy of knowing my identity.”

Jiang Mu’s curiosity peaked—this had long been a major question in his mind.

“My true name is the Dao of Heaven Scripture, a primordial sacred artifact born with this world. My essence absorbed the essence of heaven and earth over a million years to give birth to a holy spirit—that is me. My lifespan equals that of this world, and my knowledge and experience surpass all in this age. So it is fitting that your sect leader sister calls me senior.”

Jiang Mu was momentarily speechless with shock. He had guessed many possibilities about the figure before him, but now knowing the truth, he realized he had been thinking too simply.

This was a being who shared the same longevity as heaven and earth!

Swallowing hard, Jiang Mu found himself at a loss for words.

“The cultivator draws qi into the body, transforming it into spiritual power. This spiritual power is then stored in the dantian, nourishing it—this is the Qi Refining stage. The spiritual power flows through the meridians, strengthening bones, renewing blood, and forging skin, rebuilding the body from the outside in to establish a foundation—this is the Foundation Establishment stage.”

“Now, you have mastered the use of spiritual power and have tempered your temperament and experience within the attic. What you must do next is to open all the meridians in your body. The human body has eight extraordinary meridians. With your talent, you must fully open all eight to maximize your capacity to hold spiritual power, laying a solid foundation for future cultivation.”

As he spoke, the child—an incarnation of the Dao of Heaven Scripture—threw an item to Jiang Mu.

Jiang Mu caught it and found it to be a cultivation manual.

“This is a Heavenly-Level internal cultivation method. I know you possess better ones, but those are not suitable for you at this stage. Follow this method to cultivate—just focus on circulating spiritual power as instructed and open all your meridians.”

Jiang Mu was no longer surprised that the Dao of Heaven Scripture could see what he carried. Holding the manual titled The Yan Sect Decision, he paused briefly before responding.

“Very well. You may now attend to your own matters. When you have opened all your meridians, come find me again. I will then tell you what to do next.”

With those words, the child vanished, and Jiang Mu’s vision blurred once more.

When he opened his eyes, he was outside the attic again.

Such a method was indeed miraculous!

He sighed in admiration, feeling a touch envious, but confident that he would soon reach this level himself.

At that moment, an excited voice came from behind.

“Brother Mu, you actually came out so quickly!”

Jiang Mu turned around and immediately saw the lively Su Li. However, today she was dressed differently from before, wearing a simple coarse cloth dress and a veil like Jiang Yuexuan’s, concealing her face.

Su Li bounced over and hooked her arm around his. Jiang Mu instinctively tried to pull away but found he lacked the strength to do so. After a few attempts, he gave up.

Honestly, he still felt a bit overwhelmed, unsure how to face this girl whom the Third Sister called his childhood betrothed.

“You... why are you here?”

“Of course, I’m here to keep you company. Master worries you’ll slack off without supervision, so she sent me to watch over you!” Su Li teased, winking playfully and offering a casual excuse.

Jiang Mu neither doubted nor refused. Despite their rocky first meeting, he did not reject her. With the layer of connection through Third Sister, he actually felt a certain warmth toward Su Li.

Whether childhood betrothed or fellow disciple, Jiang Mu cared little to distinguish now. Being comfortable together was enough.

With that thought, Jiang Mu stopped resisting Su Li’s grip on his arm. As she chattered away, they walked step by step toward the outer disciples’ quarters.