Behold the Gods, Behold All Beings, Behold All Vast and Mysterious Things!

All returned to Great Yin; all was buried beneath the great moon. In that instant, the entire universe collapsed and crumbled, before being completely entombed by that infinitely vast great moon.

Beneath such grandeur, Su Tu's heart and mind was like a mayfly, rootless and adrift. He was dragged from a god's-eye view down into the mortal world.

His heart, mind, and consciousness were shrouded by boundless gloom, as though they were about to fall into oblivion alongside this universe.

Yet faced with all this, he felt neither fear nor panic. Instead, there was an indescribable calm, as if everything in the world was meant to be buried beneath the great moon.

Like a truth of heaven and earth, like a rule of the universe.

Just as his heart and mind were about to sink into oblivion—

Buzz~

A faint point of light appeared above Su Tu's heart and mind, and his consciousness returned to normal at that moment.

"What happened to me just now?"

Su Tu felt that, in that instant, some force had twisted his perception, making him feel that being buried beneath the great moon was the happiest possible ending.

If that point of light had not appeared, he truly would have sunk into that void.

As his consciousness cleared, the point of light steadily expanded. In the end, illuminated by its radiance, Su Tu entered his True Self World.

Black Mountain, Twin Moons, White Tiger, Green Snake—this world was like an anchor that pulled Su Tu's consciousness back.

Then a force of repulsion emerged and ejected him from his True Self World.

"Haah!!"

"Haah, haah!!"

Su Tu abruptly opened his eyes. Like a traveler who had just crawled ashore after drowning, he greedily sucked in air. Only then did he shake off that deathly solitude, that sense of emptiness where all living beings were buried beneath the moon.

If his True Self World had not awakened him, he even doubted whether he could have woken up on his own.

"Did you undergo Dao Gathering with Great Yin?" Zhou Wuliang's voice came from above.

Only then did Su Tu raise his head and look around. At this moment, only he and Zhou Wuliang remained in the room.

Hearing Zhou Wuliang's question, Su Tu tried to imagine the Grand Yin Divinity. A pale great moon immediately appeared within his heart and mind.

"Yes. I can already glimpse the divinity within my heart and mind." Su Tu spoke. According to what Li Hu had said earlier, this was the sign of successful Dao Gathering.

"Not bad. The divinity within this Secret Painting is the true god, Great Yin. Though it contains only a fragment of its divine charm, it is still superior Dao Gathering. Moonlight can enhance comprehension, and Great Yin can manifest in reality and suppress all things. As for its other wonders, you will need to comprehend them yourself."

"Other than initial guidance when entering the path, Mind Cultivation can only be pursued by yourself from then on."

Zhou Wuliang spoke solemnly to Su Tu.

Mind Cultivation was difficult to enter, and even harder to pursue deeply!

Aside from the beginning, all cultivation and tempering depended on oneself. Everyone gained different insights from Mind Cultivation; another person's insights were useless for one's own cultivation and could even lead one astray.

Thus, Mind Cultivation could only be walked alone. Geniuses could reach godhood, while the mediocre returned to dust. That was why Mind Cultivation was called the domain of geniuses.

Su Tu listened carefully to Zhou Wuliang's instruction before speaking in a guilty tone.

"Teacher, I didn't mean to undergo Dao Gathering. That Secret Painting drew in my heart and mind, and I entered it instinctively!"

Although Li Hu had brought him here precisely for Dao Gathering.

At the time, however, Zhou Wuliang had yet to grant permission when he was drawn in by the Secret Painting and underwent Dao Gathering on his own. Taking without being told was theft. Even if something was destined to belong to you, it could not be taken before the time was right.

Therefore, Su Tu apologized for what had just happened.

"It's fine. You are my student, and I had intended to pass this Secret Painting on to you. I only delayed because I was considering your Heart and Mind Height. I never expected your talent for Mind Cultivation to be even greater than your physical aptitude."

"In the end, I was the one who delayed you."

Zhou Wuliang smiled. He truly did not mind Su Tu's actions, but Su Tu's awareness of the matter made him appreciate the boy even more.

"I heard from Hu Zi that you can enter your True Self World?"

"I think so. My heart and mind can enter a special space. Inside is the scene from the Secret Painting I first saw."

Su Tu answered honestly.

Zhou Wuliang was still deeply shaken upon hearing this. Although Li Hu had already told him what had happened over the past two days while Su Tu had been immersed in Dao Gathering.

Hearing it directly from the person involved still felt astounding.

Even someone like him, who had traveled across many stars, had only heard of geniuses of this caliber. This was his first time seeing one with his own eyes.

He did not ask what Secret Painting Su Tu had first undergone Dao Gathering with. Mind Cultivation was inherently private.

"Good. I originally had you attend school to improve your heart and mind, but it seems that won't be necessary now. Starting tomorrow, go request leave from school. The Martial Examination documents will be issued soon anyway."

"Alright."

Su Tu's feelings were somewhat complicated. As a top student, taking an extended leave right before the college entrance examination was rather backwards.

But now that he had stepped into this mysterious world, he naturally would not hesitate or turn back.

"You have now gained an initial grasp of body, mind, and skill, and have truly entered the path of cultivation. Your talent is exceptional, but you must not become lax because of it. This world is vast—far too vast. The Ancestral Star is too small. With your aptitude, you will have the qualifications to see the Myriad Races of the Universe and the myriad stars of the heavens. Do not remain here."

Normally, after a student revealed their talent, Zhou Wuliang should have found the proper cultivation path for them, chosen the strongest among body, mind, and skill, refined their strengths, and compensated for their weaknesses.

But what weaknesses did Su Tu have? He cultivated a mysterious Base Skill with his body, instantly mastered the first level of Prajna Seven Kills, and entered a Secret Painting at a glance to undergo Dao Gathering. Everything was a strength—where were his weaknesses?

So long as Su Tu did not slack off and cultivated normally, Zhou Wuliang believed that with his talent, the Ancestral Star would merely be the first step of his brilliance.

"I understand, Teacher!"

Su Tu answered earnestly. He had finally glimpsed this wonderful world. Talent was merely his springboard.

He wanted to behold the gods, behold all beings, and behold all vast and mysterious things!

"Alright, go cultivate."

Zhou Wuliang waved a hand, and Su Tu left. It was a good thing to practice his Base Skill sooner.

As he walked out of the room, however, his movement paused slightly as he closed the door.

But he quickly shut it and headed for the Body Tempering Room to cultivate.

Zhou Wuliang watched Su Tu's departing figure, his gaunt face carrying an inscrutable expression. He had never expected to encounter such a monster on the Ancestral Star.

A peerless prodigy in body, mind, and skill alike. What a pity... what a pity.

"Your student is remarkable." A harsh voice sounded.

"Be careful in the future. That child's talent for Mind Cultivation is extremely high. He might discover you someday. Don't let him mistake you for an enemy and take you out," Zhou Wuliang said.

The figure shrouded in black mist smiled disdainfully. "He is indeed a monster. Born to Xing Ku, he has already constructed a True Self World. But while I deliberately conceal myself, he still cannot sense my existence."

Zhou Wuliang said nothing. He merely took a sip of tea, then another, then another, then...

Su Tu arrived at the Body Tempering Room. Luo Fan and the others were already cultivating their Base Skills inside. Su Tu found a spot and began cultivating as well.

His body and mind sank into stillness. Assuming the stance of his Base Skill, he circulated qi throughout his body, continuously tempering himself.

There was a fluctuation in the room earlier. Was there someone else in Teacher's room? Su Tu narrowed his eyes. As he had left, he had sensed a wave from the heart and mind seated beside his teacher.

Teacher has an extraordinary background. It's normal for him to have some secrets.

Su Tu did not dwell on it and immersed himself in cultivation. Practicing Burial of Immortals could increase his Body Strengthening Proficiency in real time. The sensation was impossible to resist.

After opening eleven acupoints, he could clearly feel that when cultivating his Base Skill, qi circulated faster and its quality was higher.

Before long, he had completely focused on Burial of Immortals.

After cultivating Burial of Immortals for twenty minutes, his vitality and blood surged. Body Strengthening Proficiency +20

Cultivated

After cultivating Burial of Immortals for eighty minutes, qi shook his entire body. Body Strengthening Proficiency +20

Body Strengthening (Mid Grade): 582/1000

Only when Su Tu felt that his body had reached its limit did he emerge from that state.

"The cultivation time has increased."

After opening eleven acupoints, the duration of Burial of Immortals had increased from sixty minutes to eighty minutes, allowing him to gain more Proficiency.

At this rate, Body Strengthening could reach High Grade before the Martial Examination.

The improvements brought by a Mid Grade skill could already be described as a complete rebirth. It was hard to imagine what changes Body Strengthening would bring once it reached High Grade.

Thinking of this, Su Tu could not help feeling excited.

He ended his stance and rose to his feet, just about to temper his techniques.

Suddenly, a voice called out to him. Luo Fan was walking toward him.

"Su Tu!"

"What is it?" Su Tu looked at the Youth before him. Since the day they had arrived at the martial arts hall, they had barely interacted. Even in the group chat, both of them had mostly lurked. Since Luo Fan had come to find him now, there had to be a reason.

"I have something I want to ask of you." Luo Fan's expression was solemn, as if he had made some sort of decision.

Su Tu looked at Luo Fan, unsure what he was planning. Luo Fan came from New Star and had an extraordinary background. What could he possibly need from an ordinary person like Su Tu?

"What is it? Go ahead."

"I want to ask you to fight me. We won't use our cultivation; we'll only compete in technique. I know this request is a little abrupt, and I understand if you refuse." Luo Fan spoke sincerely.