Burial Sea Secret Canon

No sooner had the words fallen than a wisp of phantom light stirred over the figure seated cross-legged at the center. An identical illusory figure stepped out from the corpse. With the first step, his entire body became visible; with the second, his features gradually sharpened; with the third, the phantom solidified.

After three steps, an identical man stood before Qin Yang. He still looked utterly ordinary, calm in bearing and placid in gaze, dressed in plain clothes with his hair casually tied behind his head. He resembled an unrestrained, indifferent scholar from the countryside, carrying an unbridled confidence that looked down upon all beneath heaven.

If it had to be summed up in four words, it would be: wisdom pearls clasped in hand.

"Senior, your divine might is drawn inward. I am merely mortal flesh and naked eyes; it is only natural that I could not see you clearly at first glance." Qin Yang spoke truthfully. After looking a few more times, he immediately sensed that special quality which did not reveal itself outwardly. It made one surrender in admiration without feeling fear.

Once he came back to his senses, Qin Yang understood. This was a true peak expert, one who concealed all extraordinariness within the ordinary. Being able to do this alone meant he was countless times stronger in essence than those three great powers outside.

Those three shone with dazzling divine light, impossible to look upon directly, their divine might surging like waves. They inspired awe, terror, and shock, yet never made one genuinely bow in admiration.

That was the difference.

Purple Firmament Dao Lord looked Qin Yang up and down, then smiled faintly.

With a casual beckoning gesture, the Storage Bag hanging from Qin Yang's neck shattered. A coffin entwined with golden threads dropped to the ground, and its lid vanished without a sound. Purple Firmament Dao Lord stepped forward, a trace of gentleness flashing through his eyes. He lightly stroked the skull of the skeleton and murmured, "Bao Yu, you have suffered..."

Purple Firmament Dao Lord brushed his hand over Bao Yu's remains. Only after a long while did the coffin lid close, and the coffin vanished as well.

"What happened back then was too sudden. I was betrayed by a friend, and Bao Yu was implicated because of it. Though I knew Bao Yu's body was within the secret realm, I did not dare make any move."

Purple Firmament Dao Lord let out a long sigh and remained silent for a long time.

After a while, Purple Firmament Dao Lord finally turned around. "No matter what, thank you for bringing my son Bao Yu back. What do you seek? Speak freely. Though I am already dead, with only a remnant thought and remnant body remaining, ordinary matters should not be a problem."

"You need not be so courteous, Senior. I have already obtained what I wanted. I promised Bao Yu I would bring him back. In the end, I merely sought peace of mind." Qin Yang pondered briefly, then shook his head. He wanted nothing...

The greatest benefit was already in his hands. Everything else was merely branches and leaves, nothing worth caring about.

Besides, standing before this man felt as though nothing could hide itself. Qin Yang could not even bring himself to entertain the thought of touching Purple Firmament Dao Lord's remains. He knew full well how terrifying that was. He might as well ask for nothing; at least then his heart would feel more at ease, and he would not feel pressured.

"What a fine 'merely seeking peace of mind.'" Purple Firmament Dao Lord seemed somewhat surprised. He chuckled and did not press the matter, instead changing the subject. "Where did the Purple Firmament Dao Scripture you cultivate come from?"

"From Bao Yu..." Qin Yang had considered concealing it, but that thought was snuffed out in an instant, and he answered truthfully.

"Bao Yu was still too weak to pass it on to you..." Purple Firmament Dao Lord began, then suddenly paused. "Forget it. If you do not wish to reveal your secret, I will not ask. Since you also cultivate the Purple Firmament Dao Scripture, you can be considered half my successor. This thing is useless for me to keep now, so I shall give it to you."

Purple Firmament Dao Lord pointed a finger. A strand of purple qi flew from within his remains and entered Qin Yang's body. Without allowing any refusal, it instantly descended into his Dao Foundation, like a mountain, like a vast sea, suppressing the Dao Foundation in an instant.

Then, in no more than a moment, his Dao Foundation abruptly strengthened severalfold. Qin Yang suddenly gained a trace of enlightenment: if he completely fused it into his Dao Foundation, his Dao Foundation would immediately become the legendary peerless Dao Foundation, uncreated and undying, impossible to destroy.

"Senior, this..." Qin Yang was so shocked that he did not know what to say...

"This is an Innate Material, known as Primordial Purple Qi. It is the first thread of the foundation of all things born when a world first opened between heaven and earth. It is most compatible with the Purple Firmament Dao Scripture. Only by refining it and merging it into your Dao Foundation can the Purple Firmament Dao Scripture be cultivated to perfection. Then, the stability of your Dao Foundation will surpass all heavens."

"Please teach me, Senior." Qin Yang hurriedly bowed deeply. At a time like this, if he did not promptly seek instruction, once this village was passed, there would be no such inn ahead.

"When I first obtained the Purple Firmament Dao Scripture, I too believed it was as the legends said—that the Purple Firmament Dao Scripture was incomplete. Later, I learned that the Purple Firmament Dao Scripture itself contained only the foundational methods: Qi Nourishing, Foundation Establishment, and Three Origins. Beyond that, there was nothing. It was not incomplete."

"Once the innate Primordial Purple Qi is refined, the Purple Firmament Dao Scripture becomes flawless and complete.

"This foundational method may not possess the vast divine abilities of the other Ancient Scriptures passed down through the ages. It may even be inferior to the secret canons of certain great sects. Yet it has one thing that no Ancient Scripture or secret canon can rival: once the flawless Purple Firmament Dao Scripture is cultivated, all subsequent cultivation methods can perfectly harmonize with every Ancient Scripture and secret canon, gathering the strengths of other methods into itself.

"Therefore, what comes next does not depend on the Purple Firmament Dao Scripture, but on you."

"Senior..."

"Listen to me." Purple Firmament Dao Lord raised a hand to interrupt Qin Yang and shook his head slightly. "I do indeed have Ancient Scriptures and secret canons here, but after Three Origins, the most suitable one is the Burial Sea Secret Canon."

"This secret canon is not an Ancient Scripture, yet in certain respects, it surpasses Ancient Scriptures. Do not blindly worship Ancient Scriptures. They do have their strengths, but they may not necessarily suit you. I know what you wish to ask next—I do not have the Burial Sea Secret Canon either."

"Then where can the Burial Sea Secret Canon be found?"

"The friend who betrayed me—Burial Sea Dao Lord."

"..."

Qin Yang fell silent. It was like a basin of cold water had been poured over his head, chilling him to the marrow...

Was he supposed to seek out a living Titled Dao Lord and ask for his secret canon? And the man was Purple Firmament Dao Lord's mortal enemy. So long as a successor of the Purple Firmament Dao Scripture like him appeared within the other man's sight, he would certainly die in ways beyond imagination.

"Do not be discouraged either. Thousands of years ago, when he and I fought, we passed through a place ten thousand miles north of here. He once slashed out with a single strike, carving open a rift. Beneath it lay an unknown Other World. That thief was grievously injured and on the verge of death, and the treasures he carried fell into it. Perhaps the Burial Sea Secret Canon is among them.

"Besides, that thief may already be dead. With no one familiar with the Purple Firmament Dao Scripture around, you may have a chance to infiltrate the Stupa Demon Sect where that thief resided."

Qin Yang gave a dry laugh, harboring no hopes at all. Right now, he only hoped that Burial Sea Dao Lord really was dead, so he could be a little safer. And even if Burial Sea Dao Lord truly had died, Qin Yang did not think he would be able to successfully touch the corpse.

One only had to look at Purple Firmament Dao Lord now to understand why...

The most reliable option was still to search within that rift ten thousand miles away. Perhaps he might truly find something.

But why did this rift sound so familiar?

Qin Yang thought back for a moment, then was instantly startled. North, ten thousand miles away, a rift...

My heavens, it was One Slash Gorge! Thanks to Tun Sanyou and Yilou Ying Qiuying for the 100 Qidian Coin rewards.

A reader said "wisdom pearls clasped in hand" was more fitting, and I agree. I award you a little red flower. Later, I'll add an insanely awesome minor character for you, and then... have the protagonist beat him to death. I, a melancholy wanderer of the mortal world, choose you!