Void, annihilation, emptiness, fragmentation, all causes and effects of this world annihilate beneath this starry sky.
Countless worlds, myriad stars, all seem like the toys of a certain unspeakable being.
That magnificent and towering figure takes the Star River as a stage, performing with the myriad heavens, ceaselessly shifting postures, each gesture, each breath exuding indescribable might.
These movements were firmly imprinted in Su Tu's mind.
He could feel the terror of this Basic Skill, with every movement he mirrored from that figure, the bloodline and bones within him were continuously transforming, he could even hear the sound of blood vessels tearing inside him.
Intense pain swept over Su Tu in an instant, yet his expression remained as calm and indifferent as before.
Finally, that magnificent figure ceased all movements, standing straight in the universe, like a spear piercing the Star River and all realms.
In the end, everything around began to dissipate, and Su Tu understood that he was about to leave this place.
Everything here was an illusion created by that Basic Skill.
And now that he had committed that Basic Skill to memory, he would naturally leave this illusion.
"Thank you, senior," Su Tu softly spoke to that figure.
The one who imparts the teachings is the master, and though this figure was only a manifestation within the Basic Skill, in Su Tu's eyes, it indeed taught him an extraordinary Basic Skill, worthy of being called a senior.
In the next moment, Su Tu's figure dissipated like foam within the Star River.
The solitary Star River continued to sway, the figure stood towering, yet two dazzling great suns appeared out of nowhere on the figure, like a pair of eyes!
He, no, should be called It!
It gazed in the direction of Su Tu's departure and let out a soft sigh, a sigh filled with a thousand-year sorrow and eternal grief, wherever the sound reached, it turned all heavens into cries of lamentation, as if billions of beings were mourning simultaneously.
"Immortals... are no more... gods... have fallen..." With each word It spoke, the brilliance behind It grew even more dazzling,
"Heavens... have fallen..." Its last words seemed to touch upon a certain rule, revealing only three words.
As these words fell, a dilapidated palace appeared behind It... everything in that palace was decayed and collapsed.
On the giant, dark-red moss-covered palace gate, eyes looking in every direction grew, and the plaque above the gate, corroded by that dark-red, vaguely revealed a half-formed character...
South...
....
When Su Tu opened his eyes again, he was met with an indescribable and intense pain, the veins on his forehead bulged, his skin turned crimson, and his body burned feverishly, as if a fire was boiling his blood.
Thousands of ants gnawing at the heart, stripping veins and stretching muscles, could be no more.
Zhou Wuliang looked at Su Tu, whose eyes were now open, with eyes filled with a bit of astonishment.
He was well aware of the pain of cultivating Basic Skills for the first time; back then, when he was known as steadfast as a mountain, he wailed endlessly during his first practice of Basic Skill.
Yet this young man before him, veins bulging, skin as if boiling, clearly at his limit, did not utter a single sound of pain.
"Doesn't it hurt?" Zhou Wuliang asked curiously.
"It hurts." With just this word, sweat already appeared on Su Tu's forehead.
"If it hurts, why not shout?" Zhou Wuliang eyed his student.
Su Tu remained silent for a while, after quite some time, he seemed to adapt to the pain and finally spoke, "Will shouting make it not hurt?"
Hearing this, Zhou Wuliang was even more satisfied with Su Tu.
Not only possessing such incredible physical qualities, but also having such perseverance and insight, if this child grows up, he can almost foresee a blazing sun illuminating the Star River in the future.
Su Tu at this moment had no interest in Zhou Wuliang's thoughts.
He now had a strange feeling, as if with a single heart thought, he could see inside his own body, witnessing a profound cyan energy flowing within his blood vessels and meridians, with something faintly growing inside him.
Quickly, that thing seemed to complete its nourishment, forming an extremely faint 'sprout' within Su Tu.
"The inner life force is born, you now have the qualification for Martial Arts Cultivation," Zhou Wuliang withdrew his palm at this moment and sat back on the master's chair.
Su Tu now felt not a twinge of pain but rather a fulfillment within, his bodily condition much improved from before, especially with the emergence of that 'sprout' within, wondrously nourishing his body at every moment.
"From today, you are officially stepping into the Martial Arts Dao. From now on, practice the Basic Skill diligently every day and try to infuse that energy into your body's acupuncture points. Once you're successful, you'll have entered the first tier of the Martial Arts Dao, the Peeping Branch Realm."
"Thank you, Master. I wonder what Master wants me to do!" Su Tu felt the changes within himself and looked at Zhou Wuliang with eyes full of gratitude.
Having lived two lifetimes, before facing anything, he often asked himself three questions: Why me? Why must it be me? How could it be me?
Zhou Wuliang was excessively kind to him. Although he came with the so-called Red Seal, whether it was the previous Tier Seven Basic Skill or the tattered booklet, they were not ordinary items.
Su Tu couldn't believe that the other party would support every student this way.
He knew he was just a student, not a disciple. Earlier, when Li Hu was guiding him, through casual conversation, he learned the distinction between a disciple and a student.
A student is merely a martial learner, taught combat skills at best. Being taught the Basic Skill is already an exceptional kindness, while a disciple is a future successor, their life and future tied with the master's honor and disgrace.
Su Tu knew Lin Feiyang had a significant background, but he didn't think that just the mere name could make Zhou Wuliang treat him so favorably.
Hearing Su Tu's words, Zhou Wuliang was slightly taken aback.
"Does this kid think I have something for him to do?"
"Quite shrewd indeed."
Yet Su Tu misunderstood Zhou Wuliang. Those familiar with Zhou Wuliang knew he loved talent exceptionally. When encountering geniuses above the Star River, he couldn't help but offer some guidance. Because of this, he maintained good relationships there.
And now, seeing Su Tu with such natural talent for the flesh, especially since he was his seventh student, his lucky number seven!
That's why he did this much.
But since Su Tu asked, Zhou Wuliang immediately adopted an inscrutable demeanor, lightly tapping his palm on the table.
"One of the ten spots in the North Sea, I want you to secure one!"
Upon hearing this, Su Tu immediately replied, "I will do my utmost!"
Su Tu originally wanted to see what the martial exam was like, and now it aligned with Zhou Wuliang's request. He was naturally happy to comply.
"Alright, you've just done your Foundation Establishment for the first time today. Go and rest. Come over after school each day. How are your academic results?"
"The results are acceptable, just passable," Su Tu said modestly.
"Hmm, what you learn doesn't matter as much as the learning itself. Once you enter the tier, you'll understand what I mean."
Initially, Su Tu thought he would have to spend every day at the martial hall and was ready to take leaves, but unexpectedly, Zhou Wuliang asked him to continue attending classes during the day.
You probably have a lot of information you're unclear about. Later, I'll have Li Hu send you a website with most of the information on the Martial Arts Dao. You can browse through it."
"Go on, I won't see you off." Zhou Wuliang waved his hand.
Su Tu politely bowed and then exited the room.
As soon as he left, Zhou Wuliang, who had maintained an inscrutable demeanor, immediately slumped down, looking just like Li Hu earlier, as if a programmer drained of energy.
"This kid... what kind of monster... just the guidance alone almost drained me. Although we face suppression on the Ancestor Star, this is just too much."
"I wonder what he comprehended from that Daoist Skill..." Zhou Wuliang leaned back in a lazy posture, feeling inexplicably uncomfortable.
He glanced at the table, suddenly realizing, and forced himself up to knock on it six more times, feeling satisfied with it.
"Why not ask him?" a sarcastic voice suddenly suggested. The black mist man was sitting on the Master's Chair beside Zhou Wuliang, yet Su Tu never noticed him.
"Heh... Whatever is gained from that comprehension, no one can take away. There's no point in asking." Zhou Wuliang replied.
There was once a martial arts prodigy who coveted that Daoist Skill, forcibly seizing its form from a talented prodigy. Later, he only practiced a few steps before his soul was extinguished, and his entire body was covered with... dark red eyes...
.....
After coming out from Zhou Wuliang's room, Su Tu found Li Hu, got a file, and was ready to leave.
It's worth mentioning that on the way, he met his classmates, and contrary to his expectations, they bore no aristocratic arrogance. Instead, there was some... deliberate friendliness in their tone when they spoke to him.
But Su Tu didn't really mind. When he left the martial hall, there were still quite a few people waiting outside.
Walking on his way home, he uttered three words: "Immortal Burial!"