The Great Dao Scripture

"What?"

At those words, Jiang Tian froze on the spot, his heart twisting in agony.

He clearly remembered that although his family had never been wealthy, they had managed a reasonably comfortable life.

His father, Jiang Chenglin, had been a skilled technician at a large factory, earning enough each month to feed and clothe their family of four.

His mother, Wu Xiuli, had been one of the best workers at the textile mill, and her monthly wages had even allowed them a few comforts.

Had everything really changed because of him?

"I deserve to die! It's all my fault! It's all because of me!"

Consumed by guilt, Jiang Tian slapped himself hard several times.

"Don't do that!"

Jiang Wan'er hurried forward and caught his hands. Her heart aching for him, she asked, "Can you tell me where you've been all these years? Mom, Dad, and I all thought you were already..."

Jiang Tian exhaled and looked at Jiang Wan'er solemnly. "Wan'er, do you want to hear the truth?"

Jiang Wan'er nodded emphatically.

She did!

More than anything!

She desperately wanted to know how her brother had vanished ten years ago and what had happened during those ten years!

Seeing the urgency in his sister's eyes, Jiang Tian gave a bitter smile. "Wan'er, what I'm about to tell you might shatter everything you believe, but I swear it's all true. Will you believe me?"

"Yes! I'll believe anything you say!"

Jiang Wan'er nodded again and again.

"All right, then I'll tell you..."

Jiang Tian told Jiang Wan'er everything about the ten years he had spent studying the Dao on Azure Cloud Mountain.

After hearing his story, Jiang Wan'er gave him a strange look. A long while later, she gently wrapped her arms around him.

"You must have suffered so much all these years."

Jiang Tian paused, then smiled faintly. "It wasn't too bad. I got used to it."

But Jiang Wan'er's next words nearly shattered his composure!

Cradling Jiang Tian's face in her hands, Jiang Wan'er said with aching tenderness and utter seriousness, "Don't worry. Once I make lots of money, I'll take you to the best hospital and get your brain fixed! I promise!"

Jiang Tian had been feeling rather touched, but his expression instantly froze.

Wait.

So his sister still thought he was mentally ill?

"Wan'er, listen to me. These past ten years..."

"I know, I know. You went off to cultivate, and now you're a really powerful cultivator! Hurry up and eat your noodles before they get soggy."

Before he could finish, Jiang Wan'er interrupted him, then ladled the noodles out of the pot and handed them to him.

Looking at the steaming noodles before him, Jiang Tian didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Well, cultivating immortality did sound far-fetched. Anyone would think he had lost his mind. It was only natural that his sister didn't believe him. He could explain it properly when he had the chance.

"Careful, they're hot. You still know how to use chopsticks, right?"

Just as Jiang Tian was comforting himself, Jiang Wan'er dealt him another blow.

Great. She really did think he was crazy.

After finishing his noodles, Jiang Tian insisted on washing the dishes himself to prove that he wasn't insane.

Jiang Wan'er was a little worried at first, but once she saw that her brother behaved perfectly normally apart from talking nonsense, she relaxed.

At least he could look after himself.

"You can sleep in Mom and Dad's room tonight. When I get back from school tomorrow, I'll buy you some everyday necessities."

Jiang Wan'er came over to Jiang Tian carrying a quilt.

Jiang Tian took it and nodded. "All right, I'll handle it. Get some rest. You've got school tomorrow!"

Jiang Wan'er checked the time. It was almost eleven at night. "Good night, then!"

"Good night!"

Jiang Tian nodded.

Just as he was about to carry his quilt into his parents' room, Jiang Wan'er suddenly turned around and asked, "Am I really not dreaming?"

Jiang Tian stopped, his heart trembling. He turned back and smiled gently at her. "You're not dreaming. I'm really home!"

Jiang Wan'er stared straight at him. After a long while, she hurried forward and hugged him, then quickly returned to her room.

Looking at her closed door, Jiang Tian felt warmth fill his heart.

At the same time, he silently swore that no matter what happened, he would never leave them again!

Once inside the room where he would be sleeping, Jiang Tian quickly made the bed and prepared to turn in.

But after so many years of living in the mountains, he couldn't fall asleep right away.

So he simply sat up, crossed his legs, and began to meditate.

The cultivation technique he practiced was called the Great Dao Scripture!

According to the old man, it was a truly supreme technique, a closely guarded secret of his Jade Pivot Lineage that had been passed down for tens of millions of years.

It was also the reason the old man had forced Jiang Tian to become his disciple!

According to him, only someone with an innate Dao body could practice it. Even the old man himself couldn't cultivate it!

The old man had personally told him that he was a cultivator at the peak of the Mahayana realm, only one step away from transcending his tribulation and ascending. Yet even someone so extraordinarily gifted had ultimately passed away in meditation.

And Jiang Tian had indeed lived up to the old man's expectations. In just ten short years, he had gone from an ordinary boy to a mighty Nascent Soul cultivator!

Nascent Soul was one of the realms on the path of cultivation.

The old man had once explained that the path to immortality was divided into:

Eight realms: Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Spirit Transformation, Body Integration, Mahayana, and Tribulation Transcendence.

Each realm was further divided into four stages: early, middle, late, and peak.

Advancing through even one minor stage was a tremendous breakthrough for a cultivator. It not only increased their strength, but could also extend their lifespan.

For instance, a Qi Refining cultivator could easily live to a hundred.

At Foundation Establishment, that became two hundred.

And those who reached Golden Core and Nascent Soul could live for five hundred and a thousand years respectively!

But in this age of declining cultivation, an ordinary cultivator was doing remarkably well to reach Foundation Establishment. Jiang Tian, however, was already a Nascent Soul cultivator, powerful enough to sweep aside all opposition!

As he began circulating the Great Dao Scripture, Jiang Tian gradually settled into cultivation.

In the blink of an eye, the night passed.

The next morning, it was already broad daylight when Jiang Tian emerged from cultivation.

Despite cultivating all night, he didn't feel the slightest bit tired. On the contrary, he felt refreshed and clearheaded.

Unfortunately, he was already a Nascent Soul cultivator. In an age with so little spiritual energy, making further progress solely by absorbing the energy of heaven and earth, without any outside aid, would be exceedingly difficult.

"If I want to break through, it looks like I'll have to find another way!"

Jiang Tian exhaled, then rose and left the room.

To his surprise, when he reached the living room, he found breakfast waiting on the table, with a note beside it:

"I've gone to school. Remember to warm up your breakfast before eating when you get up. I'll make you something delicious when I come home tonight!"

Reading the neat, graceful handwriting on the note, Jiang Tian couldn't help smiling faintly.

He was also annoyed with himself. How had he forgotten that final-year high school students had to get up so early? He had even planned to make breakfast for his sister!

But there was nothing he could do about it now. Looking at the steamed buns and soy milk on the table, he didn't mind that they were cold and dug right in.

After eating and tidying up, Jiang Tian frowned in the direction of the city center and murmured to himself:

"It's time to go see Mom and Dad!"