Complete "Dao Scripture"

Jiang Yun gradually came back to his senses and suddenly remembered.

The Heavenly Caves here in Yan Kingdom treated disciples who had yet to embark on the path of cultivation this way when it came to meals.

They called it eating vegetarian food to temper the heart. Once one stepped onto the path of cultivation, there would be no need for this.

The two had no choice. After going an entire night without food, they were starving, so they each finished their portion completely.

Then they found several teapots in the room and fetched some water from the stream.

The conditions did not allow for much, so they could only make do.

As expected of a cultivation world. Although the food was bland, it was uncontaminated, and if one savored it carefully, there was even a faint sweetness to it.

After eating and drinking their fill, the two chatted in the courtyard.

Before noon, a streak of rainbow light tore across the sky. Elder Ma Yun hurried over and tossed several books to each of them.

"These are several Daoist Canons. Spend the next few days studying them first."

Then he solemnly took out two thin books.

"These two are the opening chapters of the 'Dao Scripture.' Read them first. There is no need to rush into cultivation. Compare them with the Daoist Canons and see what you do not understand. In a few days, teachers will be arranged to guide your cultivation."

After giving his instructions, Elder Ma Yun left.

As for whether giving them the "Dao Scripture" first might cause them to go astray in cultivation, Elder Ma Yun had never considered it.

Did they really think the Sea of Bitterness was so easy to sense?

Even if they sensed it, without outside help, trying to shake the Sea of Bitterness and open it up would still be unimaginably difficult.

If one could cultivate merely by casually reading a cultivation technique, what would be the point of transmission elders?

He had given them these books so they could first learn some basic cultivation knowledge. Only after understanding those things could they begin to comprehend cultivation techniques.

After Elder Ma Yun left, Jiang Yun and Ye Fan eagerly opened the "Dao Scripture" and began studying it.

Just as expected, neither of them could understand it at all. Ye Fan was better off, having studied ancient texts; he recognized nearly every character, but once more than two characters were put together, he could not understand them.

Jiang Yun could not even recognize all the characters. The suffering of an illiterate person.

The two were somewhat anxious. The path of cultivation lay right before them, yet they could not even enter through the door.

After a while, Jiang Yun sighed and gave up. Ye Fan picked up several Daoist Canons beside him, planning to study those first.

If Jiang Yun had not arrived, Ye Fan and Pang Bo would have needed to study theoretical knowledge for three months under Wu Qingfeng's guidance at Spiritual Void Cave Heaven before they could begin cultivating.

After all, cultivation techniques were not written in plain language. Great Emperor scriptures contained profound meanings in subtle words; the slightest misunderstanding would bar one from the path.

Over the following days, Jiang Yun read through the Daoist Canons together with Ye Fan. Whenever he encountered a character he did not recognize, he asked Ye Fan about it.

After reading the Daoist Canons for an entire day, although the food they had eaten that morning was extremely bland, it had all been medicinal herbs grown within the Heavenly Cave.

They could not be called spiritual herbs, but after reading all day, Jiang Yun did not feel hungry at all. Instead, he remained energetic throughout the day without the slightest fatigue.

Compared with the takeout Jiang Yun often ate in his previous life, it might not have tasted as good, but it was far more nutritious and healthy.

After night fell, the two returned to their rooms. Jiang Yun sat on a chair in his room and took out the "Dao Scripture" to read it again. Though he still could not understand it, he could now recognize most of the characters.

This "Dao Scripture" was probably the same as the one at Spiritual Void Cave Heaven. It only contained cultivation methods for the Sea of Bitterness Secret Realm and was likely a shortened, heavily altered version—an incomplete fragment among incomplete fragments.

As for the complete version of the "Dao Scripture," it seemed that no one in the entire Shrouding the Heavens World had ever cultivated it. Jiang Yun did not know whether it had been lost or what had happened to it.

Fortunately, Jiang Yun's panel reward was the "Dao Scripture." Today could be considered his first step toward stability, and he was already growing impatient.

He stood up, tightly shut the door, sat cross-legged on the bed, and opened the panel.

[Panel]

Realm: Mortal

Physique: Mortal Physique (Sacred Physique 1.92%)

Bloodline: None for now (obtained through dual cultivation with a Dao companion)

Cultivation Technique: "Dao Scripture" (awaiting study)

Reflection Points: None for now (can be obtained with a Dao companion)

Source Space: 30*30*30

Dao Companion: None (single)

Mark: None for now (obtained through dual cultivation with a Dao companion)

Descendant Bonus: None

He tried using his thoughts to communicate with the "Dao Scripture."

Jiang Yun seemed to hear a boom, then entered an indescribably profound state. His mind became utterly clear, and countless methods for cultivating the Sea of Bitterness Secret Realm were etched deep into his mind like Great Dao Heavenly Sound.

In his hazy state, Jiang Yun seemed to hear Daode Heavenly Venerable expounding the Dao to him. The mysterious method of the "Dao Scripture" began circulating naturally, running through his body again and again. With every cycle, it became more compatible with Jiang Yun.

It was as though it could develop every bit of potential within Jiang Yun. He seemed to be controlling a virtual body that cultivated without pause.

Words appeared one after another in his heart: Sea of Bitterness, Life Spring, Divine Bridge, Other Shore, and nine transformations akin to shedding one's mortal body and exchanging one's bones.

Then it broke into the Dao Palace, one level, then two.

Suddenly, the cultivation technique came to an abrupt halt, because Jiang Yun gradually could not keep up with the speed at which the "Dao Scripture" was being transmitted. After all, he was still a mortal who had yet to enter cultivation.

Even with Daode Heavenly Venerable explaining the scripture to him, he could not understand anything beyond the Dao Palace.

The cultivation methods at higher levels were difficult to comprehend before one had reached that realm, so they could not be understood clearly.

Furthermore, if this led to misunderstanding and one blindly pursued certain phenomena during cultivation, it would negatively affect one's progress and might lead one astray.

Ordinary learning required study first, then practice; cultivation learning required practice first, then deeper understanding.

As these insights gradually settled, they hid in the deepest part of Jiang Yun's consciousness, waiting for the right time for him to awaken them again.

Jiang Yun slowly opened his eyes, somewhat delighted. Although he had not yet digested the profound insights of the "Dao Scripture," he could now see the later contents.

The "Dao Scripture" inherited through the panel contained cultivation methods for the five secret realms of Sea of Bitterness, Dao Palace, Four Extremes Realm, Dragon Transformation, and Immortal Platform.

And it did not contain only cultivation techniques.

It also included forbidden secret arts from the "Dao Scripture," Dao Venerable's alchemy methods, Dao Venerable's formation pattern chapters, and inheritances covering every aspect.

This single complete "Dao Scripture" alone could support the inheritance of a top-tier sacred land or an Ancient Era aristocratic clan.

However, he still could not fully comprehend those supplementary techniques, though he had gained much more understanding of the path ahead.

The first level of the Sea of Bitterness was the Sea of Bitterness itself—cultivators first opened their Sea of Bitterness, then continuously expanded it. Throughout this process, life essence would steadily grow and linger above the Sea of Bitterness.

When the life essence reached a certain level, it would overflow from the Sea of Bitterness and continuously nourish the body, strengthening the physique far beyond that of ordinary mortals.

Gradually, this life essence would condense into "Divine Patterns," the primitive form formed from life essence. Once the Divine Patterns within the Sea of Bitterness grew numerous enough, one could begin forging vessels.

Next, as the Sea of Bitterness was opened further and cultivation deepened, bubbles would emerge from the Wheel of Life beneath it. When they burst, they would form rosy clouds. Eventually, bubbles would surge beneath the Sea of Bitterness like springs, like an undersea volcano erupting, with rosy clouds rising and spreading everywhere.

Once the rosy clouds gradually became liquid, one could begin attempting to break through to the Life Spring.

Through his profound understanding of the "Dao Scripture," Jiang Yun could not help trusting the panel's abilities even more. He also began looking forward more eagerly to the functions that could only be experienced after gaining a Dao companion.

Seeing that the darkness outside had yet to fade, meaning it was only around three or four in the morning, Jiang Yun began his first cultivation session.

Circulating the profound cultivation method of the "Dao Scripture," Jiang Yun gradually entered a state of perfect focus. Before long, he sensed the Wheel of Life below his navel and began trying to guide the circulation of his own vital essence.

Jiang Yun had taken the sacred medicine from the Desolate Forbidden Land together with Ye Fan, and it had specifically nourished the Wheel of Life. It had not even been two days since he had drunk his fill of Divine Spring water.

The panel's inheritance of the "Dao Scripture" was even more like hands-on instruction, constantly simulating the circulation of the "Dao Scripture" technique.

Great Dao Heavenly Sound assisted Jiang Yun in understanding the meaning of the "Dao Scripture." His comprehension of the Dao was comparable to the treatment received by an Emperor's Son or Emperor's Daughter.

Among the six Heavenly Caves of Yan Kingdom, Jiang Yun could confidently say, "No one understands the 'Dao Scripture' better than I do."

As Jiang Yun continuously sensed the circulation of vital essence within his body, the sky gradually brightened.

Little Dingdang came running swiftly from outside the valley with a food box in her arms. Standing before the courtyard, she called out in her slightly childish voice.

"Brother Jiang Yun, Brother Ye Fan, I brought you food."

Jiang Yun slowly came back to his senses from cultivation. He walked to the door and looked at the sky outside. It was probably already seven or eight in the morning.

He could not help sighing. Time passed so quickly during cultivation.

If no one came looking for him and he was not hungry, he could cultivate for three days and three nights straight.

After all, the feeling of becoming stronger bit by bit was simply too addictive.

He lightly clenched his fist and felt that his strength had increased somewhat. He even had the urge to test himself against Ye Fan as he was now.

Forget it. I'll let Little Ye off for now. Once I enter the Sea of Bitterness, I'll have a proper fight with him.

Jiang Yun thought modestly.

"Coming, coming! Little Dingdang, we're coming."

Ye Fan saw Jiang Yun staring at him and, for some reason, his scalp tingled. Ignoring Jiang Yun, he headed straight toward Little Dingdang.

Jiang Yun also came back to his senses and followed Ye Fan outside.

Ye Fan accepted the food box Little Dingdang handed over, while Jiang Yun gently patted Little Dingdang's little head.

Little Dingdang did not resist much now. Although they had not known each other for long, she felt that these two big brothers were different from those Immortal Seedlings who always acted so high and mighty.

Jiang Yun teased Little Dingdang a little more.

Ye Fan seemed to have something on his mind and signaled Jiang Yun with his eyes.

Jiang Yun then pulled Little Dingdang into the courtyard, and the three sat down on the stone benches.

"Little Dingdang, have you read these books before?"

Ye Fan took out the Daoist Canons Elder Ma Yun had given them yesterday.

"Big Brother, are you still reading these books? I finished them the year before last."

Little Dingdang looked at Ye Fan curiously.

Hearing Little Dingdang's words, Ye Fan's old face rarely reddened, and the words he had planned to use to ask for guidance suddenly would not come out.

"Big Brother is testing you, to see whether you truly understood them. I'll help guide you."

The future Heavenly Emperor Ye was also someone with thick skin. He quickly concealed his embarrassment and changed his phrasing.

Jiang Yun nearly burst out laughing as he watched from the side.