Sea of Consciousness Opened, Literary Heart First Condensed

Within the Diligent Study Hall, time slipped quietly by amid focused cultivation.

Since Wanhua's clone had taught the Literary Fire Body Tempering Chapter, the newly inducted disciples had immersed themselves in this unprecedented cultivation experience.

Literary Qi filled the hall, while Dao rhythms flowed through it, providing an exceptional environment for their cultivation.

Xuanjizi sat cross-legged, his body shrouded in a faint golden halo—the sign of literary fire continuously tempering his body and Literary Qi naturally radiating outward.

Within him, pale golden Literary Qi flowed in endless cycles along its prescribed paths, like a gentle river.

That seed of literary fire in his dantian had already grown to the size of a bean, steadily and continuously releasing light and heat as it tempered every inch of his Dao body.

He could clearly feel the subtle yet earthshaking changes taking place within his fleshly body.

His bones had become ever more lustrous, like jade, seeming to ring softly when struck; his flesh and blood had grown more crystalline and pure, containing far greater vitality than before.

His meridians had been widened and toughened, enough to withstand even more surging impacts of Literary Qi.

Certain exceedingly hidden old injuries left behind by past cultivation, along with impurities deposited by his mana, had quietly evaporated and dispersed beneath the day-after-day tempering of literary fire, like morning dew beneath the sun.

Yet the effects of the Literary Fire Body Tempering Chapter went far beyond that. As his body was repeatedly tempered and purified, he keenly sensed that his "spirit"—

—namely, the core of his consciousness and soul—was binding ever more tightly with this Dao body tempered by literary fire, while his perceptions became sharper and deeper.

His Sea of Consciousness, once an ethereal and insubstantial place merely used to store divine sense, now began to feel "swollen" under the nourishment of vast Literary Qi and unceasing body tempering, as though it had reached some critical point.

He knew the time was near.

According to the Sage's Clone's previous guidance, once one had accumulated sufficient Literary Qi and brought body tempering to a certain level, it would be time to attempt opening the Sea of Consciousness and lay the foundation for condensing the Literary Heart.

On this day, Xuanjizi felt the Literary Qi within him brimming to the point of overflow. The "barrier" of his Sea of Consciousness seemed as thin as cicada wings; at the slightest movement of his thoughts—

—a roaring sensation arose. He hesitated no longer, gathering every stray thought and sinking his mind wholly into his body.

He circulated his cultivation method. No longer content merely with the Heavenly Cycle, he began to marshal all the Literary Qi in his body. Like a hundred rivers returning to the sea, it slowly gathered toward the ancestral aperture between his brows—the portal to the Sea of Consciousness—and struck!

Rumble!

It was not a real sound, but the sound of creation exploding from the depths of his soul!

The Sea of Consciousness, once chaotic and void-like, seemed to become Pangu splitting heaven and earth beneath the influx of boundless Literary Qi, as clear and turbid first divided!

Endless darkness was driven away, chaotic thoughts smoothed over, and a vast, lucid, stable new world was forcibly opened under the guidance of his will!

The process was far from smooth. Opening the Sea of Consciousness involved the very origin of the soul; the slightest misstep could injure his spirit and soul.

Xuanjizi kept the Sage's teachings firmly in mind. Rather than forcing his way through with brute strength, he used pure Literary Qi as axe and chisel, and steadfast will as his guide, advancing step by step.

Carefully expanding this "inner universe" that belonged to him alone.

He saw that the boundaries of his newly opened Sea of Consciousness were no longer void, but "barriers" formed from countless delicate Dao Runes that glimmered with faint light.

These Runes flowed naturally, containing the profound meanings of "Order," "Guardian," and "wisdom," making this Sea of Consciousness far sturdier and more wondrous than that of ordinary cultivators.

At the center of his Sea of Consciousness, Literary Qi gathered and revolved like a nebula, radiating a soft, brilliant glow that illuminated the entire inner space.

Here, the speed of his thoughts had increased severalfold, and his comprehension of Dao principles had become clearer than ever before.

With the Sea of Consciousness opened, the Literary Heart must be condensed!

Without pausing for even an instant, Xuanjizi immediately began the most crucial step—condensing his Literary Heart!

The Literary Heart was the core of a Confucian cultivator, the embodiment of Dao principles and will, the foundation of one's future path!

He recalled his own journey: the hardships of taking form, the difficulty of seeking the Dao, countless failures and perseverance... In the end—

All his thoughts converged upon that fragment of true nature, "Seeking," which he had seen reflected before the Heart Cleansing Pool!

"My Dao lies in 'Seeking'! Seeking the principles of heaven and earth, seeking the truth of the Great Dao, seeking the path to transcendence!"

With immense will, he drew upon the Literary Qi of his entire Sea of Consciousness and his most fundamental intent of "Seeking," frantically compressing and condensing them toward the core of the rotating Literary Qi nebula at its center!

Countless understandings of the ultimate principles of heaven and earth—the tracks of wind, the transformations of clouds, the revolutions of stars, the withering and flourishing of plants—along with his own unwavering faith in pursuing the Dao—

became countless tiny golden motes, flying toward that core like iron filings summoned by a magnet.

The rotation intensified, the light contracted, and an indescribable sense of weight and sanctity spread through Xuanjizi's mind.

He felt as though his very soul trembled and ascended along with this condensation.

No one knew how long passed. It seemed but an instant, yet also an eternity.

When all the Literary Qi, all his thoughts, and all his comprehensions of Dao principles had been compressed to their utmost limit—

Hummm!

An incomparably clear chime rang from the depths of Xuanjizi's Sea of Consciousness, echoing throughout the entire Diligent Study Hall!

The Literary Qi around him surged out of control, forming behind him a hazy phenomenon woven from countless wind patterns and runes of seeking knowledge!

At the center of his Sea of Consciousness, the swirling nebula had vanished. In its place was a perfectly round crystal roughly the size of a pigeon's egg, its entire body the pure color of chaos!

Within the crystal, countless tiny worlds seemed to be born and perish. There was the soft murmur of wind, the unfurling and curling of clouds, and an unceasing, steadfast intent to explore the unknown, flowing and gleaming within!

The crystal appeared still, yet it seemed to pulse faintly in accordance with some profound rhythm. With every pulse, it naturally drew in the Literary Qi of the outside world—

transforming it into purer power to replenish itself, while radiating a gentle yet resolute light that illuminated and stabilized the entire Sea of Consciousness!

Literary Heart: Seeker, complete!

At the instant the Literary Heart successfully condensed, Xuanjizi abruptly opened his eyes. A brilliant gleam shone within them, as though it could pierce through all falsehood and point straight to the essence.

He felt as though the very level of his life had risen by a step, forming an unprecedentedly close connection with the "principles" of heaven and earth. The quality and quantity of the Literary Qi within his body surged explosively in an instant!

The early Golden Immortal bottleneck that had stagnated for hundreds of millions of years shattered with a thunderous crash at this moment!

Mid Golden Immortal!

It came as naturally as water flowing into a channel, without the slightest obstruction!

He had successfully opened his Sea of Consciousness, condensed a Literary Heart of "Seeker" unique to himself, and seized this opportunity to break through the cultivation bottleneck that had troubled him for so long in one stroke!

At almost the same time, the other disciples in the hall also reached their critical moments one after another.

Azure light and Literary Qi intertwined around Elder Teng, gathering above his head into the phantom of an ancient vine, lush and verdant as though dripping with green. It radiated an intent of Benevolent Generosity, Resilience, and nurturing all living things—Literary Heart: Benevolent Tenacity had successfully condensed!

Vigorous vitality bloomed across his aged face, and his cultivation advanced greatly as well.

Behind the Antlered Maiden Yun Xi emerged the phantom of a tranquil, peaceful mountain forest. Her deer eyes were clear and steadfast, while a crystal symbolizing Literary Heart: Guardian Shining Brightly within her Sea of Consciousness.

Even Yun Su, who had originally been lost and confused, now had a completely solidified form. His gaze no longer drifted, instead carrying a distinctive liveliness and transcendence.

A Literary Heart: Illusory Truth, containing the intent of "gathering and dispersing without constancy, pursuing the true essence," finally condensed into form as well!

For a time, extraordinary phenomena bloomed throughout the Diligent Study Hall. The radiance of Literary Hearts interwove, and Dao rhythms surged.

Those who had successfully condensed Literary Hearts saw their auras soar and their Dao Foundations stabilize; those still striving were likewise drawn along by this Opportunity, accelerating their progress.

Wanhua's avatar stood quietly at the front, watching the disciples below step into the realm of Literary Hearts one after another. A faint look of gratification appeared on his face.

The Sea of Consciousness had been opened, and Literary Hearts had begun to condense. This meant that these seeds of the Confucian Dao had truly sunk down roots of their own, Dao Foundations containing infinite possibilities, within this Primordial World.

The inheritance of the Confucian Dao was no longer an intangible ideal. Within these newborn Literary Hearts, it had begun to Take root and sprout, growing strong and flourishing.

A great path reaching the heavens, wholly different from the old methods of the Primordial World, had already spread out beneath their feet—a solid, resplendent beginning.