In ancient times, the cultivation world had many schools, primarily Daoist, Buddhist, and Demonic. Daoism became the mainstream due to its broad appeal, lacking both Buddhism’s high mental threshold and Demonism’s risks of cultivation deviation.
Confucianism was the youngest and most unique path. Unlike Daoism’s Three Pure Ones, Buddhism’s Shakyamuni, or Demonism’s Xing Tian, Confucianists revered Confucius himself.
However, Confucius was historically a mortal. Gradually deified through imperial honors over dynasties, his teachings were introduced to the cultivation world about 900 years ago by a great Confucian scholar who entered the immortal realm. This path particularly suited noble Daoist cultivators with strong literary backgrounds, eventually evolving into the Confucian cultivation school.
Confucian cultivation centered on “learning,” emphasizing inclusivity and education for all. Younger Confucian cultivators believed in abandoning class distinctions, treating all knowledge-seekers equally, and asserting that diligent study could lead anyone to great attainment.
Reflecting on Confucian cultivation history, Nan Yan understood the Dao Sky Heart Sutra’s importance to them—the more diverse teachings they absorbed, the broader their path became.
Though not a Confucian cultivator herself, Nan Yan had to admit their inclusivity held great vitality, potentially becoming the next mainstream after Daoist cultivation—unless her brother grew increasingly powerful.
“…What about Buddhist cultivation? Its attack power is insufficient. Even with two hours, it’d be futile,” Yuan Ang, proud of his Yuan Magnetic power, glanced disdainfully at Nan Yan. Noticing her striking appearance, he looked more carefully and softened his tone, “Such a beauty, why pursue Buddhist cultivation? What a pity.”
Nan Yan chanted “Amitabha” and approached the chamber, privately communicating with Yun Nian: “You value this Dao Sky Heart Sutra greatly?”
Yun Nian replied ruefully, “To be honest, Sister Zhenyuan, I have a secret technique to break this barrier, but using it before the Mountain and Sea Prohibition might compromise my ability to protect fellow cultivators in the secret realm. If you’re willing to try, whether you succeed or not, this barrier-breaking talisman is yours.”
Nan Yan nodded slightly. Yun Nian spoke truthfully; Confucian cultivators’ joint techniques were formidable, and revealing them early would significantly weaken their competitiveness in the Mountain and Sea Prohibition.
“No need to be constrained. I’ll give it my best effort,” Nan Yan agreed, then addressed Yuan Ang, “This humble nun came late. Would the Imperial Scion allow me a try?”
Yuan Ang raised an eyebrow. Though he could forgo the Dao Sky Heart Sutra, he found Nan Yan’s blend of beauty and Buddhist aura intriguing: “Further delay wastes time. How about this: I’ll let you try before me, but regardless of the outcome, you’ll owe me a favor.”
Yun Nian frowned, “Friend Zhenyuan is merely helping me. This favor should be mine to owe. Yuan Ang, you shouldn’t impose on others.”
Nan Yan said, “It’s fine. Mutual aid is expected in the secret realm. Time is precious; please allow me to try.”
The surrounding cultivators made way. As Nan Yan entered the chamber, she sensed a peculiar energy—pure, world-weary, determined, and steadfast—quintessentially Daoist.
A stone pedestal stood in the chamber’s center, with a jade slip floating above it. Made of green jade, it looked ancient and was enveloped in a thin purple light with faint turtle shell patterns.
They were right; it was indeed a defense created from a refined demon turtle’s soul.
Nan Yan first attempted an attack with an orthodox Buddhist Bodhi seal. The turtle shell pattern remained unmoved, eliciting scoffs from outside.
“Buddhist techniques indeed counter demons, but their attack power is too weak. Don’t waste time; come out,” Yuan Ang’s mocking smile hadn’t lasted long when Nan Yan’s aura suddenly chilled, an indescribable bloodthirst lurking behind her.
“Hmm?”
With a flick of her finger, Nan Yan enveloped the purple demon turtle barrier in dark, blood-tinged Buddhist runes, causing it to creak in distress.
“How is this possible?!” onlookers exclaimed.
Nan Yan had switched to the Seven Buddha Karma Sutra technique. Just as she was about to break the turtle shell barrier, the Dao Sky Heart Sutra jade slipped inside and emitted a green light, resisting her attack on its own.
…It was as if two Dao systems were repelling each other.
Nan Yan let out a soft exclamation. Sensing an extremely pure Daoist spiritual power opposing her, she was slightly surprised, gripped with three fingers, and employed the second-level Sin Cleansing Chapter’s power.
In the Seven Buddha Karma Sutra, the Sin Creation Chapter dealt with life and death, acknowledging one’s sins, while the Sin Cleansing Chapter made judgments on universal concepts of good and evil.
Nan Yan knew the most terrifying Seven Buddha Karma Judgment Chapter remained. Using herself as the measure, if she deemed something or someone sinful, she could invoke the punishment of seven Buddhas—no evil in the world could escape her judgment.
The purple demon turtle light barrier flickered with crimson streaks as Daoist and Buddhist energies clashed. Outside, the previously unconcerned Yuan Ang’s expression changed. When the barrier finally shattered with a crack and Nan Yan held the Dao Sky Heart Sutra, he seemed more interested in her than the jade slip.
“Mission accomplished,” Nan Yan handed the Dao Sky Heart Sutra to Yun Nian, who looked both joyful and worried. He transmitted, “In my haste, I’ve implicated you, Sister. The Wu State Imperial Scion has ulterior motives for the Mountain and Sea Prohibition and may hold a grudge against you after today. I have some newly acquired fragmentary Buddhist scriptures as compensation. Also, if you face danger in the Mountain and Sea Prohibition, please don’t hesitate to seek my help.”
Nan Yan accepted with a smile. As others dispersed to claim treasures from other chambers, Yuan Ang remained, saying, “You’re Zhen Yuan from Mao State’s Chou Mountain Academy, right?”
Nan Yan replied, “Does the Imperial Scion have any guidance?”
“We’re both Foundation Establishment cultivators; there’s no need for such wariness.” Yuan Ang glanced at the half-burned incense downstairs and continued, “A quarter of the treasure barriers in this pavilion are refined from demons and spirits. Since your technique counters evil energy, you could probably claim a quarter of the treasures upstairs easily.”
Nan Yan had sensed this when breaking the demon turtle barrier but hadn’t mentioned it. Yuan Ang’s revelation drew hostile glances from other cultivators.
In the fiercely competitive cultivation world, where strength determined everything, Nan Yan’s ability instantly made her a target.
Almost immediately, the sharp-eared and keen-eyed cultivators scrambled to occupy all visible blue and purple-lit chambers on the upper floors, regardless of their contents.
Cloud Nian’s anger flared. “How despicable!” she exclaimed.
Yuan Ang scoffed, “It’s merely strategy. I didn’t order them to seize it, so how is that despicable? While the treasures in this Hall of Ten Thousand Treasures are impressive, they pale in comparison to the Mountain and Sea Forbidden Technique. My Yuan Magnetic Holy Light counters the Five Elements, and your Buddhist power counters evil spirits. Why don’t we cooperate in acquiring the Mountain and Sea Forbidden Technique?”
When Nan Yan remained silent, Yuan Ang continued, “You’ve successfully caught my attention. I’ll visit you tonight, and you must be present.”
Nan Yan was left speechless.
Cloud Nian, hanging her head, said quietly, “I’ve caused you trouble.”
“It’s alright,” Nan Yan reassured her. “I just have one question.”
“Huh?” Cloud Nian looked up, puzzled.
Nan Yan sighed, “Why are the evil sect’s young masters always so domineering and imposing, while our righteous sect’s young masters are… so colorful and flamboyant?”
With half an hour remaining, Nan Yan bid farewell to Cloud Nian and ascended to the upper floors.
As she climbed, she encountered various cultivators who had already claimed their spots:
“Apologies, fellow Buddhist, but I arrived here first.”
“If you’re so capable, why don’t you go higher?”
“I can’t concentrate with you staring at me.”
Nan Yan could only sigh inwardly.
The Hall of Ten Thousand Treasures boasted over fifty floors, with most of the top forty already occupied. As Nan Yan passed by familiar faces, especially the distracted Song Zhushi, she hesitated but ultimately decided to sneak past them. This evasion led her to the top floor.
The stone chambers on the top floor were beyond the abilities of Foundation Establishment cultivators to breach. Some purple barriers emitted a divine golden light, and Nan Yan sensed the presence of celestial beast remnant souls protecting them. The aura alone was comparable to a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, making it impossible to break through.
After surveying the area, Nan Yan discovered a promising target: a bottle of Nine-Eyed Lacquer. This substance, when applied to magical tools, could imbue them with a trace of spiritual awareness, making it an excellent material for enhancing one’s primary weapon. The bottle was surrounded by a six-foot-tall purple barrier, within which coiled the ethereal form of a snake-like creature that seemed to possess intelligence, flicking its tongue at Nan Yan.
Recognizing the creature as a demonic beast, and judging by its tail scales that it wasn’t an ancient powerful demon, Nan Yan decided to take a chance. Without hesitation, she used the barrier-breaking talisman Cloud Nian had given her as compensation. As the talisman struck, the snake-like apparition wavered, its head rising as it emitted a sharp hiss.
Alone in the chamber, Nan Yan unleashed her full power. She gathered her immense Buddhist force into a single palm strike aimed at the snake-like creature.
“Buddha’s… Sin Suppression!” she cried out.
A thunderous explosion, contained within the sealed stone chamber, caused the snake’s scales to burst and its bones to shatter. However, the ancient demonic beast’s ferocity remained undiminished. A streak of purple, poisonous gas rebounded from the barrier, instantly spreading throughout the entire chamber in countless threads.
Nan Yan’s eyes narrowed. She swiftly wrapped her prayer beads around the jade bottle containing the Nine-Eyed Lacquer and retreated rapidly, barely escaping before the corrosive gas could reach her arms.
Her forceful exit caused the staircase outside to creak in protest. Glancing back in pain, she noticed the poisonous mist threatening to spread beyond the stone chamber. With no other choice, she rushed further up the tower. Upon reaching the top level, she saw that the snake demon’s poisonous gas had dissipated completely.
Nan Yan breathed a sigh of relief, then noticed the peculiar blue stone slabs beneath her feet. With each step, a small star map blossomed underfoot. As she followed the stone path and looked up, her knees instinctively weakened at the sight before her.
At the end of the stone path stood a statue of an elderly man. Though he appeared benevolent at first glance, he exuded an imposing aura. Instead of the usual Taoist deity’s whisk, he held an enormous ancient mirror.
Could this be the Mirror of Reverse Reincarnation?
Nan Yan hadn’t held much hope when she arrived, but since she was here, she couldn’t pass up this rare opportunity to take a closer look.
“Is this… the Taoist Master Sui Han Zi?” Nan Yan whispered, her voice softening unconsciously. She found it difficult to imagine that such a revered realm lord and widely respected Taoist master could have committed the atrocities described in Shao Cang’s story.
Lost in thought, Nan Yan suddenly noticed a pain in her wrist. Looking down, she saw that the poisonous gas had eaten through her monk’s robe and reached her right wrist.
She quickly formed her fingers into a blade, cut open the wound, and waited for the poisoned blood to drain before applying medicine. As she did so, she heard a faint sound nearby, like something cracking.
Nan Yan looked up and was shocked to see the poisoned blood she had just drained transform into a mist and seep into the Mirror of Reverse Reincarnation. Suddenly, three or four cracks appeared on the mirror’s surface.
Nan Yan froze, thinking, “Oh crap!”
She didn’t dare breathe as a piece of the heavenly treasure truly broke off from the Taoist Master’s hand, falling to the ground and rolling to her feet.
She wondered if it was too late to flee from Dao Sheng Tian.
Nan Yan prided herself on her righteousness since entering the Dao, but in this situation, continuing to be righteous might spell the end of her cultivation journey.
Even more terrifying was the gentle inquiry she heard:
“Which hall are you from, young cultivator? What brings you here?”
Unaware of anyone else’s presence, Nan Yan struggled to explain, stammering, “I’m sorry, let me explain… Eh?”
Behind her stood a young man in cyan robes. His features were indescribably elegant, and he carried a scroll. Despite his youthful appearance, his demeanor exuded the sophistication of an adult. However, his cold expression made him seem unapproachable.
Nan Yan stared at the young man, overwhelmed by a strong sense of familiarity that eclipsed all other thoughts.
The young man spoke again, “Even if you’ve been punished by your elders, hiding here to cry won’t make the Taoist Master intervene on your behalf. Never mind… Where are you stuck in your cultivation? Let this senior brother take a look.”
She didn’t respond, for she had noticed something unsettling… This young man cast no shadow.