Chapter 27: Exposure

If only one or two volumes had appeared, or even seven or eight, it wouldn't have caused much of a stir. But with over twenty volumes surfacing all at once, the more perceptive individuals quickly sensed that something was unusual.

As the absolute center of the Northern Domain, the Holy City gathered a vast number of cultivators, and its circulation of information was immense. Within just two days, the matter had spread through small circles.

"Hey, have you heard about what happened in the Holy City over the last couple of days?"

"Are you talking about someone selling a large quantity of cultivation scriptures?"

Outside the Daoyi Market, a figure wearing a bamboo hat suddenly stopped and then moved closer, acting as if nothing were out of the ordinary. His actions were not abrupt, as many others were also gathering around to listen. The people discussing the matter did not stop, but continued their conversation.

"A good friend of mine has a hobby of browsing through cultivation techniques everywhere—he doesn't buy them, he just reads them. Because of that, he discovered something very strange. In the markets opened by the major factions, new techniques have been put on shelves. Altogether, there are over twenty volumes, all at the Four Extremes realm. They are scriptures never heard of before, with absolutely no known origin."

"What!" The crowd exclaimed. Over twenty unseen Four Extremes scriptures—this wouldn't mean much to the major powers, but for rogue cultivators, it was massive news.

Under his bamboo hat, Li Yao’s pupils contracted. He had not expected that someone would notice this in just two days.

"I thought it would take at least half a month for someone to notice. I didn't expect it to be this fast. It seems I underestimated the power of the crowd," he sighed inwardly.

Fortunately, he had already secured enough Origin Stones; he was not lacking in resources for the time being, and there was no need to continue taking the risk of selling scriptures. Indeed, having realized that his sales had caught the attention of others, Li Yao decided not to continue. If his identity were truly exposed, he would have no way to explain how he came to possess so many scriptures.

"Hoo."

Exhaling softly, Li Yao removed his bamboo hat and turned to leave the Daoyi Market. He was not blinded by greed; besides, two hundred thousand catties of Origin Stones were more than enough for his current needs. Once he had absorbed the resources he had, he would surely find new ways to earn more, and there would be no need to take such risks then.

***

The Yaoguang Holy Land acted quickly. Once Li Yao shed his disguise, Zhang Chong arrived before him shortly after. Seeing Li Yao, the burly man clad in armor felt a weight lift from his heart.

"Did you encounter any danger?" Zhang Chong asked, clearly relieved.

Li Yao shook his head and said, "There were some setbacks, and I ran into some bandits, but it was all without real peril."

Zhang Chong fell silent. He could easily imagine how dangerous it was for a cultivator at the Life Spring realm to travel through the desolate areas of the Northern Domain, where bandits were everywhere; one slight lapse in judgment could lead to disaster. Those bandits lived by the blade, and the more prominent a traveler seemed, the more likely they were to act with malice.

"I originally thought my strength would be enough to protect you, which is why I brought you out to gain some experience. I never imagined I would almost cause your demise," Zhang Chong said with a touch of self-deprecation.

"Though it was perilous, I believe this trip was well worth it. I have gained a great deal—things I could never have experienced within the Holy Land."

As Li Yao spoke, his brow revealed a maturity that did not belong to his age, much like a protagonist who had grown after facing adversity. Zhang Chong was momentarily stunned, but he felt no suspicion. If a person remained unchanged after brushing with life and death, they would truly be a lost cause. The reason major factions sent their geniuses out to train once they had achieved a basic level of cultivation was to pull them from their greenhouses and force them to weather the storms of the outside world. Li Yao had traversed over a hundred thousand miles of the Northern Domain; it was only natural that he had matured after experiencing combat and danger.

***

Inside the Yaoguang Holy Land’s branch in the Holy City, Li Yao recounted his experiences to Zhang Chong. He told only half the story, however, and kept silent about the sale of the scriptures. As the sky grew dark, Zhang Chong arranged a place for Li Yao to stay and told him to get some rest.

Upon reaching his quarters, Li Yao took out his Origin Stones and began his daily practice—a routine he never missed. Even though he had the "Heavenly Book" to assist him, allowing him to cultivate at all times, he never slacked off, spending at least three hours a day in dedicated meditation.

It was precisely because of this relentless diligence that, with sufficient resources, his cultivation climbed steadily. His Life Spring divine power was now like a tide, shimmering with light, showing signs of reaching the peak of the Life Spring realm. Within his brow, a small lake had begun to form—sacred and brilliant, its depths unfathomable. Though still somewhat illusory, it was beginning to take shape.

Once the small lake appeared, Li Yao felt his spiritual perception heighten significantly, and his five senses became extremely sharp. This was the transformation of his mental energy, a hallmark of the peak of the Life Spring realm. Where his divine sense reached, he did not need eyes or ears to perceive everything nearby; it felt incredibly ethereal.

However, since the small lake had not yet fully coalesced, it meant Li Yao still had potential to tap into at the Life Spring realm. If it were an ordinary cultivator, most would have chosen to break through to the Divine Bridge realm by now, as they would already possess the foundation to do so. But Li Yao did not. He understood the importance of a solid foundation; in cultivation, one must never settle for "good enough." He had to reach the absolute pinnacle of every realm before considering the next.

After finishing his meditation, Li Yao sank his consciousness into his Bitter Sea. The black ocean had undergone earth-shaking changes—waves surged to the heavens, divine glows shimmered, and thunder roared. The Bitter Sea, which was once smaller than a fist, was now a third larger.

At the center of the sea hovered a divine furnace. After several months, the small furnace had begun to take a definite shape; one could tell at a glance what it was, unlike before, when it had only been a vague impression. Its size had also changed; as his cultivation improved, the newly born divine patterns merged into the furnace, making it at least a third larger than when he first began.

Li Yao never begrudged the time spent on his vessel of enlightenment. After the furnace took shape, he had been engraving the profound mysteries of the Yaoguang Imperial Scripture onto it. Although the ancient characters would quickly fade and could not be permanently branded, the furnace itself grew increasingly extraordinary. Even without the addition of divine materials, it bloomed with dazzling, sacred flames, brilliant and eye-catching, possessing a significant amount of offensive power.

Only after engraving the scriptural mysteries onto the furnace as he did every day did Li Yao finish tempering his artifact. These were the things he did daily, even during the two days he spent selling scriptures; it had become a habit etched into his very bones.