’Perhaps this is the benefit of having a strengthened Divine Soul? Once you’re initiated into a Dao Skill, you gain all sorts of mysterious, supernatural abilities?’
As he thought of this, Ji Xiu felt an unbearable itch of anticipation, but he couldn’t help but let out a heavy sigh.
"So be it. If I obtain it, it is my fortune; if I lose it, it is my fate."
"Since this path is closed to me, I’ll just wait until my Martial Dao cultivation progresses further. Then I’ll find a Daoist Temple or some other temple and snatch a more rudimentary version for myself!"
"No matter what, this Dual Cultivation of Life and Spirit, this ’Dao Skill’... I am determined to master it. It’s just a matter of sooner or later!"
He was about to flick his hand away in resignation.
Just then, he saw Jiang Li step inside. She had rested for a double-hour, and much of her color had returned. Hearing his outburst, she entered with her hands clasped behind her back, tilted her head, and a cryptic smile touched her lips:
"Oh?"
"Planning to play robber and steal the legacy of an Outer Dao?"
"You have the spirit of the Ancient Martial Dao Families who blazed the trail."
"Hmm..."
"Frankly, even if I were to give you the Visualization Map that records the Dao Seal, my Divine Soul is currently damaged. I’m not like this little miss here, who had external help to have it directly inscribed. I wouldn’t be able to produce it right away."
"However..."
"If you have the nerve, it’s not impossible for me to help you ’steal the art’ and comprehend a thing or two from this Ten Thousand Laws Sect’s Dao Seal Secret Map..."
Hearing this, Ji Xiu’s eyes lit up.
"Miss Jiang, you have a way?"
"Don’t worry, I’m not afraid!"
"Look at the techniques that built this body of mine. Every single one is a secret guarded by some True Sect or major power. I have a golden opportunity right now. Why would I worry about some distant Outer Dao sect when improving myself is so much more important?"
"Besides, my sister is right here. She’s my ultimate backup. It’s not like her Master is going to strike me dead on the spot, is he!"
At these words, a strange look appeared in Jiang Li’s eyes.
"You’re not wrong, I suppose."
’How on earth did a poor boy from some tiny county get his hands on a True Sect’s Bone Marrow Refining Technique and the Dragon Seed Tempering Bone Technique...’
"But, since you dare to cultivate it, I’ll lend you a hand."
A gentle smile on her lips, she stepped forward. A thin layer of ’mist’ veiled her eyes, as if she could pierce through all illusion and perceive reality itself.
Instantly, Ji Xiu saw specks of ink materialize on the White Paper he was holding, but the markings remained incomprehensible to him, a blur of lines and shapes.
But...
That didn’t matter.
[Tutor is in contact with the Chixiao Heaven Universe, Ten Thousand True Sect Daoist Art Licensure Method, ’Ten Thousand Laws Dao Seal Map’!]
[Advance?]
[Repayment Condition: As the saying goes, ’Read a book a hundred times, and its meaning will reveal itself!’]
[Repayment: Read the ’Ten Thousand Laws Dao Seal Map’ with full concentration eight hundred times.]
Ji Xiu’s eyes lit up.
’Thank you, Miss Jiang!’
’Primordial Daoist Talisman, give me the advance!’
As the words echoed in his mind,
he instantly fell into a state of deep concentration, an epiphany washing over him.
[The Tutor is fully concentrated, deciphering the script and comprehending the ’Dao Seal True Form’. Advance progress +1...]
[The Tutor is fully concentrated, deciphering the script and comprehending the ’Dao Seal True Form’. Advance progress +1...]
「Outside.」
Ji Wei watched as Ji Xiu closed his eyes and, in a single breath, entered a deep meditative trance. He held the Dao Seal diagram, as still as a clay statue.
But his entire aura... it began to grow increasingly vast and ethereal.
This was not a physical expansion, not something visible to the naked eye.
It was...
...the Divine Soul within his Mud Ball Palace, gradually growing stronger!
Ji Wei covered her mouth in astonishment.
’Master used his power to enlighten me, and even then, I only just managed to cross the threshold of understanding Dao Seals.’
’Even then, he praised me as a genius in the Dao Arts, saying that to be able to comprehend the Dao Seal on my own after a single empowerment meant I only needed to put in the time and effort. He said I surpassed ninety-nine percent of the fools in this world who couldn’t even get their foot in the door after decades of study!’
’But Brother... with nothing to go on, with a single glance... he’s continuously strengthening his Divine Soul! This is clearly a sign that he is constantly comprehending the very truth of the Dao Seal. He probably mastered the basics in a single breath and is now advancing rapidly!’
’How could I be called a genius?’
’He’s the real genius!’
Meanwhile, Jiang Li, who had barged in earlier, frowned at the sight, her expression turning grave.
"Enlightenment in a single breath?"
"This..."
The threshold for a Martial Artist can be crossed as long as one has enough Heavenly and Earthly Treasures. You can force your way through with a flood of Great Medicines and precious elixirs.
But Dao Skill...
Back when the first Martial Arts Families pioneered the ’Dual Cultivation of Life and Spirit’ and established the Human Immortal Martial Dao for the Human Race, it was almost never taught to anyone who wasn’t from a truly great lineage until they reached the level of a Qi Cultivation Grandmaster.
The reason was... it is simply too difficult. No wonder those Outer Dao cultivators who seek to become Immortals or Buddhas all speak of ’affinity.’
’But this kid...’
At this thought, Jiang Li’s fists tightened, and a flicker of uncertainty crossed her eyes.
’Did I just make a powerful new enemy for him for no good reason? Was that reckless?’
’Stealing a lineage’s legacy... that creates a mortal enemy in the Dao.’
She knew that in the Great Xuan of today, ever since the defeat of her generation, the Immortals, Buddhas, and Celestial Humans had openly occupied the great sects, established their own worship, and were now encroaching on everything, step by step.
’That Ten Thousand Laws Sect...’
’...is likely one of them. They probably have countless followers within the State Mansion alone.’
A wave of concern washed over Jiang Li.
’So be it. This started because of me, so I owe the boy a favor.’
’If I get the chance in the future, I’ll have to protect him.’
But regardless of the thoughts swirling in the minds of the two women,
when Ji Xiu opened his eyes once more...
his eyes were shining with a brilliant light.
"So, this is a Dao Skill!"
[Ten Thousand Laws Dao Seal Map: (37/800)]
[Current Effect: Strengthens the Divine Soul and stabilizes Divine Thought, preventing invasion by external arts. Grants the ability of Introspection, sharpens hearing, and clarifies vision!]