Deep within Rising Sun Divine Island, the environment shifted from majestic opulence to one of profound natural simplicity. Contrary to Li Yao's initial assumptions about the seat of power, their destination was a serene bamboo forest dotted with a few unadorned huts.
As they arrived, an old man emerged from one of the huts. His body was hunched, his skin deeply lined with age. Without the contextual knowledge of this being a cultivation sanctum, Li Yao would have logically assessed him as a frail elder. Seeing the old man, Zhang Chong's authoritative demeanor dissolved into deep respect as he bowed.
"Uncle-Master."
"Zhang Chong. I wondered who would visit this old man."
"I dare not disturb your peaceful cultivation without cause, hence my infrequent visits," Zhang Chong replied, his tone carrying a deference uncharacteristic of his usual bearing.
"Heh. Your appearance belies your nature," the old man chuckled, a teasing note in his voice—a liberty few in the Holy Land could take with Zhang Chong.
Zhang Chong merely smiled, showing no offense.
The old man's gaze, cloudy and dim, then settled on Li Yao. Li Yao felt the examination, but it was qualitatively different from the invasive probe of the Ancient Mirror or Deacon Yang's Holy Light Pupil. This was not a scan, but an observation so profound it felt like being perceived by the environment itself. He remained still, offering no data point beyond his physical presence and the passive essence vortex around him.
A moment later, a sharp, clear light flashed within the old man's cloudy eyes. Li Yao's analytical mind registered the shift immediately. The frail elder vanished, replaced by the palpable pressure of an ancient entity. A terrifying, ocean-like blood and qi briefly roiled beneath the surface, a contained power suggesting the ability to shatter heavens and collapse earth. This was not an emotional impression, but a swift recalculation of the being's threat level and energy density. It was a concrete example of the transformation cultivation wrought—the evolution into a different state of existence.
The immense pressure subsided as quickly as it arose. The old man stood slightly straighter, the pallor of extreme age receding somewhat from his face.
"Ha! Good! Very good!" His laughter was genuine, a rare spark in his long life.
"Zhang Chong, you and your father have done well for Rising Sun Island," the old man—Elder Xun—said with clear satisfaction.
Zhang Chong smiled. He understood his uncle-master's joy. Rising Sun Island's place among the twelve major factions was anchored by this one figure, a peer of Holy Lord Li Daoqing from a bygone era. The elder's sole remaining attachment was the lineage itself. Securing a future pillar was the greatest gift.
"Disciple Li Yao pays his respects..." Li Yao stepped forward, pausing momentarily on the form of address.
"Elder Xun will suffice," the elder said, resolving the uncertainty.
"Greetings, Elder Xun."
Elder Xun's gaze was now appreciative. The shift in his mindset had even tempered the faint aura of decay around him. "Take him. Impart the Yao Guang Scripture and guide his first steps."
Time was a resource even he lacked. He needed to see the future take root.
Zhang Chong bowed and led Li Yao away.
"Uncle-Master's spirits are lifted," Zhang Chong noted as they walked. "Li Yao, cultivate diligently. From today, Rising Sun Island will invest in you fully."
"This disciple understands," Li Yao replied. His commitment was absolute, as his path was his own priority.
"Good." Zhang Chong halted. His hands moved in a series of seals too fast and profound for Li Yao to follow, weaving Dao patterns into a glowing, ancient character.
Li Yao understood the procedure: this was the non-negotiable security protocol. The restriction, a stream of light, shot into his sea of consciousness. Simultaneously, the knowledge of the Yao Guang Scripture unfolded within him.
"Heaven, earth, and man share a primordial origin. Man receives the righteous qi of heaven and earth; the four seasons and five elements combine to form the human body... The Dao holds no mystery; it is the interplay of Yin and Yang. Attain harmony and prosper, lose it and fall into chaos... When Yang resides within Yin, and Yin within Yang, when both are harmonized, the center finds peace..."
Li Yao processed the text. After a month of foundational theory, he could assess its tier: a sophisticated, high-level cultivation law operating on principles of cosmic balance. Its complexity would be a significant barrier to comprehension for most. This was the raw material.
In that moment, he made a fundamental decision. This scripture would be his sole foundation. The Yao Guang Scripture, with its emphasis on harmony between Yin and Yang and the unity of heaven, earth, and man, was a robust and versatile framework. It would be his core path. Other scriptures he encountered in the future—their insights, unique principles, or powerful techniques—would not be cultivated separately. Instead, the Heavenly Book would analyze them, extract their essence, and merge those strengths back into the Yao Guang Scripture, evolving and perfecting his one true cultivation law. This was the most efficient path: depth over breadth, mastery over collection.
"Now, initialize the deduction."
In his consciousness, the Heavenly Book opened. Its first page blazed with stored energy. With a thought, Li Yao directed it. The scripture in his mind was inscribed upon the page by a pen of condensed Dao principle.
The process was silent, immense, and efficient. The Book's power is activated. It did not alter the scripture's core intent or philosophy. Instead, it optimized, clarified, and strengthened the 'Bitter Sea Chapter' of the Wheel Sea Volume. The principles were refined; the pathways of energy circulation were made more efficient and profound. The output was an enhanced, more potent version of the Yao Guang Scripture's foundational stage—the first iteration of what would become his unique, evolving Dao.
In an instant, the deduced chapter was imprinted back into his understanding. He mastered it not with the intuition of a decade of study, but with the complete, systematic comprehension of a perfected blueprint.
Surging vital energy, long accumulated by the Heavenly Book, now had a defined circuit. His body, tempered by days of purified essence, was ready.
Without a word, Li Yao sat cross-legged on the ground and began to cultivate. The evaluation was over. The foundation was set. The experiment—and the lifelong process of refining his one true scripture—had begun.