"This is..."
The Dao stele carved with a nine-tier pagoda vanished, and Jiang Chuan appeared within a boundless starry sky.
The sun, moon, and stars all shone at once, illuminating the pitch-black universe.
Crack!
Intense pain struck. Jiang Chuan's right arm, which was nearly a Mid-grade Treasure Artifact, was directly compressed into his body.
He had no time to heed the pain, for what happened next was something Jiang Chuan would never forget for the rest of his life.
Rumble!
It was as though the Heavenly River had burst its banks. The waters of the nine heavens poured into the starry sky, and the sun, moon, and stars within it all trembled.
At that moment, the starry sky truly seemed to have become a boundless river of stars.
The sun, moon, and stars swam and warped endlessly within that boundless river of stars.
As though squeezed by an invisible giant hand, they continuously distorted and turned into bricks and tiles.
Within several breaths, a tier of a pagoda appeared out of thin air.
Rumble!
The void shook incessantly, like a vast ocean heaving up monstrous waves.
One sun, moon, and star after another gathered without end.
"Space is what lies in all four directions and above and below."
Jiang Chuan murmured to himself.
Crack!
Jiang Chuan's body was directly displaced by the tearing of the void.
He was like a torn cloth doll, liable to be utterly crushed at any moment.
Your mind was severely injured by the evolution of the void, and you died in silence. This romance simulation has ended.
You knew that if you could comprehend the Path of Void, it would surely be of immense benefit to your cultivation of the "Void Devouring Scripture."
After sending Elder Kong Bei away, you could not wait to comprehend it once more.
A moment later, your mind sank into the void. You vaguely felt as though you had become one with it, eventually turning into a part of the Void Pagoda.
This romance simulation has ended.
As you comprehended the Dao stele again, you felt as though you had become a swimming fish in the sea of void.
You became one with the void and died through Dao transformation.
This romance simulation has ended.
After dying through Dao transformation dozens of times, you finally mastered Dao Transformation Power and cultivated the One Qi Dao Sword to major mastery.
Filled with excitement, you once again began comprehending the Dao stele carved with the nine-tier pagoda.
In less than a moment, your mind became one with the void. You twisted alongside the void, compressing the sun, moon, and stars, before ultimately dying through Dao transformation.
This romance simulation has ended.
"Unfortunately, I can't continue any further."
Leaning against the trunk of the pomegranate tree, Jiang Chuan savored the Great Dao of Void he had comprehended from the Dao stele, then raised a hand.
Five black rainbows shot from Jiang Chuan's fingertips, tangling and weaving together like a black canopy that enveloped the courtyard above him.
An icy, powerful aura emanated from it, like a heaven-devouring beast slumbering within, about to awaken and swallow heaven and earth along with all things.
With a thought from Jiang Chuan, the black canopy slowly dispersed.
Creak!
The courtyard gate was pushed open, and Jing Hui rushed in in a frantic hurry.
"I heard from the junior brothers at the External Affairs Hall that today is the last day to go to Arhat Hall and collect the rewards. Let's hurry and set off."
Over the past month, Jiang Chuan had submitted dozens of tasks in the simulations, yet he had not submitted any tasks or collected any rewards in reality.
Just moments ago, Elder Jing Sha of the External Affairs Hall had sent someone to notify Jiang Chuan to collect his task rewards.
Tomorrow, the Sacred Emperor of the Nine Abyss Dynasty would arrive with the princes, princesses, and civil and military officials.
Elder Kong Bei had to receive the Sacred Emperor of Nine Heavens and several elder imperial uncles alongside the abbot, leaving him with no time for anything else.
Therefore, he had told Jiang Chuan and Jing Hui to collect their task rewards and comprehend the Dao stele today.
"Let's go."
Jiang Chuan took out the Flame Sun Needle and flew with Jing Hui toward Arhat Hall.
Upon arriving before Arhat Hall once more, Jiang Chuan looked at Elder Kong Bei, who wore a Seven Treasures kasaya, had white hair and beard, and held white jade Buddhist prayer beads. He spoke respectfully.
"Jiang Chuan and Jing Hui pay respects to Elder Kong Bei."
Elder Kong Bei slowly said, "Jing Sha has already sent me a voice transmission. However, the Dao stele is one of Bodhi Temple's most important foundations, and only one person may comprehend it. Will it be you or Jing Hui?"
Without hesitation, Jing Hui said, "Elder, we were able to complete this task entirely thanks to Junior Brother. Since only one person can comprehend it, then let Junior Brother—"
Jiang Chuan interrupted Jing Hui. "Let Senior Brother comprehend it."
Elder Kong Bei glanced at Jiang Chuan with slight surprise.
Jing Hui hurriedly said, "Junior Brother, you should comprehend it instead."
Jiang Chuan shook his head. "Comprehending the Dao stele is of no use to me anyway. Rather than waste time, I might as well spend it cultivating."
Elder Kong Bei: "..."
Comprehending the Dao stele was of no use?
Was this brat seeking Feather Ascension, or Buddhahood on the spot?
How dared he say something like that!
Jiang Chuan's words were not born of arrogant conceit.
He had already initially comprehended the Great Dao laws contained in the Dao stele, cultivating the three great divine abilities—the Demon Slaying Saber, Dark Space, and One Qi Dao Sword—to a level beyond that of many fifth-realm cultivators.
Even if he comprehended other Dao steles, the Great Dao he gained could only become part of his foundation and would not noticeably increase his strength.
Thinking of how, in the simulations, he had used Jing Hui as an excuse to send Elder Kong Bei away and comprehend the Dao stele dozens of times,
and considering how many times his senior brother had helped him, Jiang Chuan decided to compensate him.
Thus, he chose to give Jing Hui this opportunity.
"It's settled, Senior Brother. I'll be going on ahead."
Before Jing Hui could speak, Jiang Chuan rode the Flame Sun Needle and shot into the sky.
"Junior Brother! Don't leave!"
Jing Hui looked at Jiang Chuan's departing back and sighed softly, ultimately deciding to comprehend the Dao stele.
Just as Jing Hui turned around, he noticed a scorching gaze fall upon him.
The next moment, Elder Kong Bei's excited voice rang out.
"After all these years, I've finally found one. Jing Hui, are you willing to take me as your master?"
After leaving Arhat Hall, Jiang Chuan once again arrived at the External Affairs Hall.
This time, he had come to the External Affairs Hall not to submit a task, but to collect a reward.
Elder Jingyun had asked him and Jing Hui to help Elder Jing Zhen, that hands-off shopkeeper, manage the Spirit Beast Courtyard.
It had not been an order, but a posted task, with a reward of ten thousand Spirit Stones.
Jiang Chuan had been worrying over his lack of sufficient Star Vitality to cultivate the "Future Star Sutra."
Thus, he directly exchanged all ten thousand Spirit Stones from the task reward for a thousand jin of Star Vitality Fluid, then returned to the attic to cultivate the "Future Star Sutra."
"Draw!"
Jiang Chuan sat cross-legged on the bed and softly uttered a single word.
A blue stream surged from a yellow-skinned gourd half a man tall before him and flew into Jiang Chuan's mouth.
The stream was only as thick as an infant's arm, yet it was incomparably dazzling, as though formed from strands of blue divine radiance, crystalline and glittering.
The Future Star Sutra circulated as Jiang Chuan continuously refined the Star Vitality Fluid.
Two hours later, the final wisp of Star Vitality Fluid was swallowed into Jiang Chuan's stomach.
A bright moon hung high in the sky, and the black curtain of night covered all of Bodhi Temple. The entire attic was pitch-dark.
Threads of starlight poured from Jiang Chuan's pores, illuminating the dark attic.
At that moment, Jiang Chuan seemed surrounded by countless stars, sacred and majestic.
Then a powerful aura surged from Jiang Chuan's body.
Fifth layer of the third realm!
By recultivating the Future Star Sutra, Jiang Chuan broke through once more.
Feeling the powerful strength within his body, Jiang Chuan revealed a regretful expression.
"Unfortunately, there isn't enough Star Vitality Fluid. I could only cultivate the Future Star Sutra and Star Spirit Myriad Transformations Light, but not the divine abilities recorded in the scripture, such as Thousand Stars Evasion and Star Grasping Moon Hand."
Jiang Chuan then recalled the information Elder Jingyun had given him.
"I hope the eldest princess in reality is as refined and sensible as she was in the simulation. Otherwise, the coming month will be nothing but trouble."
He had not helped at the Spirit Beast Courtyard today because Elder Jingyun had given him information on the Nine Abyss Dynasty's eldest princess, asking him to memorize it. Starting tomorrow, he would be responsible for receiving the Nine Abyss Dynasty's eldest princess, Li Yuejiao.
As drowsiness washed over him, Jiang Chuan removed his monk's robes and drifted into sleep.
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