Scarlet Horned-Dragon True-Origin Visualization Diagram

"Quite a few unfamiliar faces have come today. How interesting."

Inside the Enlightenment Pavilion, in a room roughly thirty zhang long and wide, a white-robed man who had just opened the doors stood with his hands behind his back. His gaze lingered briefly on Lu He and the others as he spoke in a gentle voice:

"To study the Dao Stele, you must pay one Leaf Talisman. Since you have come here, I presume I need not emphasize that. But remember: each person has only one opportunity per day to go upstairs and study the Dao Stele. Each session lasts no longer than one hour. Once you hear the bronze bell, you must come downstairs within thirty breaths."

"Otherwise—"

A tangible spiritual radiance seemed to rise and fall in the man's eyes, his gaze as weighty as a mountain.

"You will be severely punished without exception!"

"We understand. Thank you for the reminder, Immortal Master."

In an instant, all the tenant farmers seated on the ground, even those who had already embarked on the path of cultivation, bowed respectfully in response.

"So strong!"

Within the crowd, Lu He lowered his head, but a flash of shock involuntarily crossed the depths of his eyes.

He had just instinctively activated the White Ape Dao Diagram a little, and immediately sensed that the figure standing ahead was less a man than a Taotie, constantly plundering and devouring the surrounding spiritual energy.

Terrifyingly domineering!

Just as Lu He was lost in thought—

"You, you, and you. The thirty of you, come with me first."

The white-robed man pointed at the thirty people seated in the front, then turned and walked out the door.

Rustle, rustle—

Under the envious gazes of the others, those who had been called did not dare delay in the slightest and rose to their feet together.

With the Immortal Master gone, the oppressive atmosphere in the room abruptly vanished, and the tenant farmers began talking among themselves.

Thirty people per group?

Sitting in the corner, Lu He began calculating.

There were still seventy-three people seated ahead of him. In other words, he was in the fourth group.

Looks like he would have to wait until the afternoon. Fortunately, he had brought plenty of dry rations when he set out today...

He touched the nine flatbreads in his clothes and felt rather fortunate.

He had specifically prepared them for studying the Dao Stele. Activating the Dao Diagram consumed too much energy, so just in case, he had brought enough for four or five meals.

Just then—

Li Zhuang seemed to have noticed Lu He. He walked straight over and said meaningfully, "Brother Lu, quite the tricks you have. I'm afraid you fooled us all. Those four taels of silver you found last night must have merely been bait deliberately laid by Old Huang. That old thing truly told you everything."

"You misunderstand, Master Zhuang. I saved up for this Leaf Talisman for a long time as well." Lu He did not even raise his head as he answered calmly.

"Master Zhuang—"

Li Zhuang's expression stiffened at those words, and a trace of anger surfaced in his eyes.

Coming from the man before him, that form of address sounded especially grating.

Yet he did not flare up. Instead, he took a deep breath and tried to make his voice gentler.

"Brother Lu, you and I both know the truth."

"I trust you also understand how difficult it is to comprehend an immortal art. The few Leaf Talismans Old Huang left behind absolutely cannot allow you to master an immortal art in one stroke. Once they are used up, you will still need to save money year after year.

"But I am different from you. I have accumulated deeply. With the help of those Leaf Talismans, I will certainly be able to master an immortal art in one go."

"Then, with this elder brother providing you with ample Leaf Talismans, Brother He, you will not even need to work the fields. You can devote yourself entirely to studying immortal arts. If all goes well, you may even step onto the path of cultivation this year."

"What do you think of this deal?"

"I'm afraid I must disappoint you, Master Zhuang. I truly don't have them."

Lu He replied without hesitation.

"Since that is the case, I will not disturb you, Brother Lu. I hope... you can comprehend the immortal art in a single attempt."

Li Zhuang spoke blandly, then turned and returned to his seat.

Where he stood, Lu He watched the other man's back with a deep gaze.

"Likewise, I hope you can gain an initial grasp of the immortal art today. Otherwise, regarding you taking my silver last night..."

Time slowly passed.

Before he knew it, it was the hour of the Goat, the hottest time of day. Had he been in the cottages, they would already have been stifling like steamers, yet the interior of the Enlightenment Pavilion was incomparably cool.

"Immortal Masters really know how to live."

Lu He's eyes were full of envy.

At that moment, the white-robed man silently appeared at the doorway and called to the crowd, "Everyone remaining, come over."

Lu He tensed and hurriedly rose, stretching his stiff body before blending into the crowd and walking outside with brisk steps.

After only a few dozen steps beyond the door, a staircase forged entirely from some unknown green jade came into view. Strange cloud patterns were carved across its surface, gleaming with a faint precious radiance.

As he passed the stairs—

"This thing would probably sell for quite a bit if it were torn down." Feeling the warm, delicate texture beneath his hand, Lu He could not help muttering inwardly.

He had been an office worker in his previous life, and after transmigrating, he had become a tenant farmer. His experiences across two lives had truly made him afraid of poverty; whenever he saw something, he wanted to sell it for money.

Creak—

The great doors slowly closed.

Everyone fell silent, their attention wholly focused on the white-robed man ahead.

Behind him stood an enormous stone stele three zhang tall, shrouded in an ancient, desolate aura.

From top to bottom, nine images were engraved upon the stele. They depicted nine strange creatures that were neither quite dragons nor quite snakes, blood-red all over, with two long horns atop their heads. They twisted through the clouds and mist, each in a different posture.

"What is the path to longevity?"

The white-robed man glanced at the crowd below. Without waiting for anyone to answer, he continued on his own:

"An ancient saying goes: 'Those who eat water swim well and endure cold; those who eat flesh are brave and fierce; those who eat grain are wise and skillful; those who eat qi are divine and long-lived.' Thus, those who seek longevity must first consume qi. Yet the human body is frail and covered in dust, so how can it consume qi?"

"The answer is: emulate the spiritual essence of Heaven and Earth, observe its intent, and supplement oneself. This is called Foundation Establishment!"

When he finished speaking, he pointed behind him at the stone stele.

"What is engraved on this stele is a Foundation Establishment method called the Scarlet Horned-Dragon True-Origin Visualization Diagram. From top to bottom are the nine realms of the Scarlet Horned-Dragon True-Origin Visualization Diagram. You may observe and contemplate them. If you grasp their intent and completely outline it within your mind, you will have entered the path."

"Also."

As though he had suddenly remembered something, the man hastily warned them:

"Do not aim too high! The nine realms of the Scarlet Horned-Dragon True-Origin Visualization Diagram merely differ in cultivation effects. In truth, even the most basic first realm can one day complete Foundation Establishment and give rise to dharma power."

"Enough. Begin your contemplation now. Remember, once you hear the bronze bell ring, do not delay under any circumstances."

With that, the white-robed man elegantly pushed open the door and departed.

He left only the tenant farmers in the room staring at one another.

"No, these lousy pictures look ordinary to me. How are we supposed to comprehend their true intent? How do those monsters from the legends, who can comprehend an immortal art with a single opportunity, actually do it?"

"Waaah... I saved for three bitter years to gather this silver. If I'd known, I wouldn't have come."

"His mother's..."

For a time, the quiet room became exceptionally noisy. Some lamented, some wept in despair, and some cracked jokes. Every facet of life was on display.

Meanwhile—

Lu He sat with his back straight, staring intently at the nine visualization diagrams on the stone stele, completely unaffected by the surrounding clamor.

He recalled the Immortal Master's warning.

"Even the most basic first realm can complete Foundation Establishment and give rise to dharma power..."

A thoughtful look appeared on Lu He's face.

It could establish one's foundation, yes, but the cultivation effect was probably mediocre, and the time required would be extremely long. And since this was Foundation Establishment, would a low-realm visualization diagram affect one's foundation?

"The best approach is to comprehend the first realm first as a safeguard, then try the higher-realm visualization diagrams as much as possible!"

As he thought this, he suddenly caught sight of Li Zhuang staring fixedly at the first visualization diagram on the stele, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles had turned white.

Lu He smiled, withdrew his gaze, and directly activated the White Ape Dao Diagram.

In an instant, his mind buzzed, and the surrounding clamor receded like a tide.

Wherever his gaze fell, the Scarlet Horned-Dragon images on the stone stele began faintly churning and roaring.