To cultivate a viable Dao and walk the path of one's predecessors is the way of ordinary people. This path is acknowledged by heaven and earth, and a select few, blessed with great fortune by the Celestial Dao, will always manage to scale the highest peaks and achieve immortality.
Alas, the path of the Dao is treacherous, and the world's people all vie to traverse it. Of the countless millions of Cultivators, how many truly attain the Dao?
If the way of ordinary people is already so difficult, what then if one cultivates an impossible Dao? What if one walks a path that is broken, a path unacknowledged by heaven and earth?
The answer: I shall guard my heart and follow my will. I shall defy the heavens. I will not ask if there is a path before me, nor if the heavens will permit it. Among the myriad stars and the Ten Thousand Daos of the Blue Heaven, I seek only the Dao of my own heart!
Jiang Jichen's Divine Thought spun a thousand times. His eyes, like stars, shone with an unyielding light.
With that sigh and that declaration, his will was forged. The Dao of Body Refining may be broken, but it would not stop him!
'The Dao of Body Refining being broken isn't an absolute. It just means it's much harder to cultivate. Under normal circumstances, I would only need forty First-Grade Spirit Condensing Pills to break through to the Mid-stage of the First Turn of the *Undying Scripture*. But now, I need to refine sixty First-Grade Spirit Condensing Pills just to break through. And the further I go, the more astonishing the required resources will be. In my previous world, eight hundred First-Grade Spirit Condensing Pills were enough to break through the First Turn Realm. But in this world, the number of pills needed will double—and that's a conservative estimate. The later Realms will be even more unimaginable, and the danger and hardship will multiply. The slightest misstep, and I'll be reduced to ash!'
Jiang Jichen mused, comparing his current cultivation with that of his past life.
Faced with such a comparison, an ordinary person would likely be terrified by the sheer cost, their will faltering.
But Jiang Jichen's will was ironclad, unwavering in the slightest.
'In my past life, I cultivated the *Undying Scripture* to the Ninth Turn Realm, but that was far from its limit. Only in this suppressive world can I cultivate the *Undying Scripture* to its Extreme Realm. Even at the same First Turn Initial Realm, my strength in this world is a good deal greater than it was in my original world. And this is just the beginning. I'm really looking forward to seeing the power of the *Undying Scripture* after the Second Turn.'
Jiang Jichen murmured to himself, his voice full of confidence.
He took out the remaining forty First-Grade Spirit Condensing Pills. He was going to give it his all and break through to the Mid-stage of the First Turn of the *Undying Scripture*, hoping to reach the Second Turn Realm as quickly as possible.
The true power of the *Undying Scripture* would only manifest after the Second Turn. At that point, he would have no fear, even when facing an Innate Cultivator.
Jiang Jichen popped ten pills into his mouth and began refining them in four separate waves.
Vast Spiritual Power transformed into fine, hair-like streams that coursed through his entire body. The sensation was like being pricked by millions of tiny needles—an agony that could make the soul itself tremble.
Jiang Jichen endured this agony for an entire night. It wasn't until the sun had set and risen again, its light spilling into the Meditation Room, that he finally opened his eyes and exhaled a breath of turbid air.
'I've finally reached the Mid-stage of the First Turn. Still, it was slower than I expected. The main reason is that the Spiritual Qi in this Meditation Room is too thin and unsuitable for cultivation. Next time, I should go to the Five-star Bronze Cultivation Field. I also need to repair my Qi Sea and Spirit Veins as soon as possible. Without the support of my Spirit Cultivation, progressing to later Realms will be impossible.'
Jiang Jichen got to his feet. He was covered in a foul-smelling black grime—the filthy blood and impurities expelled during Body Refining.
The Meditation Room was quite large and even had a pool off to the side. Jiang Jichen walked to the edge, stripped naked, and jumped right in.
He remembered that he used to bathe here right after his meditation sessions, so fresh clothes, towels, and other bathing necessities were always kept well-stocked.
The pool was filled with fresh, running water and was nearly a meter deep. After washing away the filth, Jiang Jichen felt completely refreshed. He was just about to step out and get dressed.
"Chen'Er!"
Before Jiang Jichen could react, a voice like a celestial melody drifted in. The door to the Meditation Room swung open, and a woman of breathtaking beauty appeared before him.
She glided in with graceful, lotus-like steps, her movements elegant and captivating. Her smile was as gentle as a spring breeze, as warm as the morning glow. Her bright eyes sparkled, pure and enchanting. She was a natural beauty, as lovely as a poem, as picturesque as a painting.
"Aunt, you... why are you in here?"
He instantly retracted the foot he had just lifted out of the pool. If he'd been a fraction of a second faster, Jiang Ling'er would have been treated to the full picture of a handsome man emerging from his bath.
Jiang Jichen stammered.
"What's there to be shy about? Is there any part of you this aunt hasn't seen? Come on out. I have something to tell you!"
Jiang Ling'er's voice was as melodious as pearls cascading onto a jade platter. To Jiang Jichen's ears, however, her words struck like a bolt from the blue, and his face instantly turned deathly pale.
'What's going on? I don't have any memories of this!'
'Could it be? Does the seemingly pure Jiang Ling'er have such a wicked sense of humor? Did I really have such an embarrassing past?'
"Chen'Er, you look a bit pale. You must have been in the cold water for too long. Hurry and get out, put on some clothes!"
Jiang Ling'er deftly picked up Jiang Jichen's clothes and walked to the edge of the pool.
"Aunt, could you wait outside for a moment? I..."
Jiang Jichen said cautiously.
"Jiang Jichen, has it only been a few days and you already think you're too grown up for your aunt? Hmph! Fine, I'll make this quick. I was delayed a night returning to my Sect because I was searching for a way to repair your Qi Sea and Spirit Veins. I have a few leads now, but I need several Spirit Medicines—Yu Haixin, Phoenix Blood Grass, and a Spirit Communication Flower—which can only be found in the Moonlight Forest. As it happens, the major Sects are all organizing training for their disciples, and the Training Land is the periphery of the Moonlight Forest. So, I have to leave right away. You stay here in the mansion and behave yourself for the next few days. Wait for my return!"
Jiang Ling'er might seem as tranquil as still water on the surface, but her personality could be quite impulsive. She had come and gone in a rush, and after saying her piece, she turned and walked right out of the Meditation Room.
In that instant, an inexplicable warmth and emotion stirred in Jiang Jichen's heart.
'It seemed a soft spot in his heart had never changed, whether it belonged to the former Jiang Jichen or the man he was now.'
He threw on his clothes with lightning speed, rushed out of the Meditation Room, and shouted, "Aunt! Aunt..."
He called out several more times, but only his own voice echoed through the Jiang Mansion in the autumn morning air.
Hearing no reply, Jiang Jichen assumed Jiang Ling'er was already long gone. He couldn't help but feel a pang of loneliness and a faint touch of sorrow.
"Chen'Er, don't you worry. I will definitely find a way to repair your Qi Sea and Spirit Veins. In my heart, you will always be that invincible, genius boy. Wait for me at home, okay?"
The voice was faint and ethereal, fading away like dust on the wind.
It was Jiang Ling'er, using a technique to carry her voice on the wind. She was already miles away.
Jiang Jichen looked up at the vast, clear blue sky and let out a soft breath. 'Wait for me at home,' he murmured. 'From now on, I should be the one saying that to you!'
He gathered his emotions and turned his thoughts back to cultivation.
'The Five-star Bronze Cultivation Field is a good place. With the Spiritual Qi there, combined with the *Ancient Source Character Scripture*, I might be able to repair my Qi Sea!'
Jiang Jichen decided to head to the Cultivation Arena in Cyan Moon City to train.
He had no cultivation resources on hand right now, only a single Five-Star Bronze Cultivation Card.
He didn't see Xing'Er, so he simply informed the old butler before leaving through the gates of the Five Mansions and heading alone toward the Cultivation Arena in Cyan Moon City.
...
The Southern Continent was home to countless nations, and the Celestial Pearl Country was but one of thousands—a tiny nation at that. Its territory spanned several hundred miles, consisting mostly of continuous mountain ranges where the Spiritual Qi was thin, making it ill-suited for cultivation or for building large cities. As a result, the entire Celestial Pearl Country had only one major city, which also served as its capital: Cyan Moon City.
Consequently, aside from the Sects hidden away in the spiritual lands of the deep mountains, most other Cultivators congregated in Cyan Moon City.
Cyan Moon City was surrounded by mountains to the east, west, and south, while its northern border abutted the Moonlight Forest. The city itself was rectangular, thirty kilometers from north to south and twenty kilometers from east to west. The only way out was to the south, through a great valley road that stretched on endlessly.
Cyan Moon City could be considered a mountain city, but as the capital of a nation, it possessed an extraordinary atmosphere all its own.
Ancient pavilions clung to the mountainsides, seemingly suspended in mid-air. Waterfalls like silken ribbons cascaded down sheer peaks.
The elegant mountains, wreathed in a light mist, overlooked the ancient city below.
Within the city, the architecture was quaint and classical, possessing both the idyllic charm of small bridges over flowing streams and the grand atmosphere of palaces, temples, and ancient towers.
The Cyan Moon Cultivation Field was located in the center of Cyan Moon City, not far from the Jiang Mansion. The journey was only three kilometers, requiring just a walk down a long, ancient street before one would see a massive bluestone plaza.
Eighteen Gray Jade Array Pillars stood tall around the perimeter, gathering nature's spiritual energy and making the Spiritual Qi here far denser than it was outside the plaza.
Cyan Moon Plaza was evidently a cultivation ground open to anyone free of charge. However, those who had yet to reach the One-star Bronze Level or enter the Second-level Mortal Realm rarely came here to train. Instead, it had become a favored training spot for commoner Cultivators.
Thus, the people gathered here were almost all disciples from commoner families. Cultivators from the Noble Families or major Sects would simply pass through Cyan Moon Plaza to enter the true Cyan Moon Cultivation Field beyond it.
When Jiang Jichen arrived, he didn't find the expected scene of commoner disciples cultivating in peace. Instead, he saw large crowds gathered around a notice board in the center of Cyan Moon Plaza. Their voices were a clamorous din as they argued amongst themselves, creating a chaotic scene.
"Did you hear? The Five Spirits Sect is about to announce its new recruits from Cyan Moon City, but the results are already getting out. A lot of the talented disciples from the Noble Families were selected, but only five were chosen as Inner Sect Disciples, and only one as a Succession Disciple!"
"I heard that Luuo Sha from the Luuo Family, Shen Yu from the Shen Family, Fang Yunyi from the Fang Family, Jiang Haifeng from the Jiang Family, and a commoner named Xia Yun were all chosen as Inner Sect Disciples for the Five Spirits Sect. But who's the Succession Disciple?"
"The news that's spreading doesn't say who the Succession Disciple is. But there was a rumor going around before that Jiang Jichen was the one pre-selected by the Five Spirits Sect to be the Succession Disciple!"
"Hmph, what pre-selected Succession Disciple? Haven't you heard what Lady Ouyang Xue reported back to the Five Spirits Sect? She said Jiang Jichen is now a spiritual cripple who has switched to the Body Refining Dao. But the Dao of Body Refining is broken, so he'll be stuck as a mere Body Refiner forever! The whole city is talking about it. You're really out of the loop!"
"Besides, haven't you noticed? Jiang Jichen's name has been removed from the Cyan Moon Rankings. The new number one on the youth list is Murong Qingshu!"
...
Just as the crowd was in the midst of their discussion, someone shouted, "Lady Ouyang Xue is here!"
The entire plaza fell silent in an instant, every gaze turning in unison toward the entrance.