Chapter 135: Chapter 96: Daoist Canon - Celestial Derivation! Initiation in One Go

Not a single one of the Golden Jade Tower’s managers, all of whom had traveled from the Prefecture City, thought Zhong Ming could successfully master a Celestial Level Cultivation Technique.

Wei Jingcheng, the Law Enforcement Elder escorting him, didn’t have the mind to pay them any attention, nor could he refute their claims.

—Even within their Seven Profound Sect, few believed Zhong Ming could comprehend a Celestial Level Cultivation Technique from the Golden Jade Tower.

After all, powerful techniques weren’t handed out freely. If there were a Celestial Level Cultivation Technique that could actually be practiced, the Golden Jade Tower would never have made it available.

They did this, knowing it was an impossible task, purely to win Zhong Ming’s loyalty.

Of course, deep down, they also harbored a sliver of hope for a miracle. And Zhong Ming, indeed, had surprised them before.

Thus, Wei Jingcheng focused all his attention on the secret chamber, hoping Zhong Ming would succeed.

「...」

While Wei Jingcheng waited with anticipation, Zhong Ming, inside the secret chamber, had just finished flipping through the catalog of Celestial Level Cultivation Techniques. He now understood why Li Feng had said the Golden Jade Tower’s techniques "could only be admired from afar, not cultivated"—every single one of them was full of hidden pitfalls!

The power of the Celestial Level Cultivation Techniques collected by the Golden Jade Tower was certainly no exaggeration.

Take the first technique Zhong Ming examined, the [Immortal Gilded Body]. It was a Body Forging Cultivation Technique, and upon reaching Great Success, one would be nigh invulnerable to all techniques.

Let alone common Magic Techniques like water, fire, ice, and thunder, even high-end forces like time would struggle to erode the Cultivator’s gilded body.

Immortal, indestructible, unchanging, unmoving, unkillable... This nearly eternal physical body was powerful in the extreme.

There were even records of Cultivators who had practiced the Immortal Gilded Body whose physical forms remained incorrupt for ten thousand years after their souls had perished.

For such a technique to be classified as Celestial Level was only natural, but there was just one small problem with cultivating it.

To cultivate this technique to Great Success, one had to smelt an Immortal Level treasure called "Gild" to serve as its core.

And Gild... was practically non-existent in the mortal world.

’Without the resources, it’s impossible to practice!’

Shaking his head speechlessly, Zhong Ming turned his gaze to the second technique: "Supreme Profound Space-Time Record".

This technique used the Supreme Profound as its axis and space-time as its wheel. Upon reaching Minor Achievement, one could control local space-time, slowing the flow of time in the vicinity and traversing short distances through space.

Such a powerful technique naturally had its own requirements.

It wasn’t fixated on a specific Cultivation Resource, but practicing this technique required the Cultivator to possess the Supreme Profound Immortal Body.

A physique like that was one in a hundred million, and Zhong Ming was clearly not among them.

...

The first two techniques had already left Zhong Ming speechless. The third made him want to just stare at the sky in exasperation.

This technique was called the "Three Lives Reincarnation Scripture". Its prerequisite was that at the moment of death from old age, one had to use their life’s comprehension of birth, aging, sickness, and death to condense a Reincarnation Seal.

Succeed, and you could be revived. Fail... and you would simply die.

And the probability of a person successfully condensing a Reincarnation Seal was less than one in ten thousand.

What made Zhong Ming feel even more helpless was that you had to perform this life-or-death procedure three times!

’Is this a technique a human can even practice?’

At this point, Zhong Ming even suspected the Golden Jade Tower was trying to scam him.

However, after reading the catalog, he discovered that the entry for the Three Lives Reincarnation Scripture actually recorded successful practitioners—and more than one.

...

This left Zhong Ming at a loss for words.

’Whew. Calm Heart. Didn’t someone warn me before I came? The Golden Jade Tower’s techniques aren’t that easy to cultivate!’

Muttering to himself, Zhong Ming continued to browse.

Soon, more Celestial Level Cultivation Techniques came into view.

’The Tome of Annihilation... It requires the Lonely Celestial Destiny to practice, and cultivating it involves suffering three calamities, nine tribulations, and countless trials. I don’t qualify.’

’The Void Realm Technique... requires one to be the Master of a Grotto Heaven Blessed Land...’

After filtering through them all, Zhong Ming found that while the Golden Jade Tower had collected many Celestial Level Cultivation Techniques, there were only two he could possibly practice.

The first was the "Shenxiao Tribulation Thunder Technique".

This was a technique that used Thunderbolt to temper the Divine Soul. At Great Success, one could manipulate endless tribulation thunder.

The difficulty of this technique was its danger.

Tempering the Divine Soul with Thunderbolt—and not just any ordinary thunder, but tribulation thunder—had to be done eighty-one times. Most who attempted to cultivate this technique died miserably under Celestial Tribulation.

Of course, a more likely problem was simply not being able to find that much tribulation thunder to temper your Divine Soul with.

—If someone intruded while a Cultivator was undergoing their tribulation, the power of the tribulation thunder would increase.

And someone cultivating the Shenxiao Tribulation Thunder Technique would have to seek out tribulation thunder, specifically from tribulations of an equivalent realm.

’...If I succeeded in cultivating this, I’d make enemies of the entire world.’

Shaking his head speechlessly, Zhong Ming looked at the final Cultivation Technique from the Golden Jade Tower: [Daoist Canon - Celestial Derivation].

This technique was closely related to the human body’s Divine Treasures. It could barely be classified as part of the Body Forging lineage, yet it far surpassed the scope of ordinary Body Forging techniques.

After reading its description, Zhong Ming discovered, to his exasperation, that every Celestial Level Cultivation Technique the Golden Jade Tower offered had a hidden catch. And among them all, Daoist Canon - Celestial Derivation was the most abstract.

This technique had no resource requirements, nor did it demand a special physique. Its cultivation difficulty wasn’t even high.

According to the Golden Jade Tower’s records, to cultivate this technique, you only needed to chant the Daoist Scripture day after day.

The reason such a technique was deemed suitable for sale by the Golden Jade Tower was due to a small flaw.

Namely, what you gained from cultivating this technique, and when you gained it, was all up to—Heaven’s will!

If you were lucky, you might chant the Daoist Scripture a hundred times and gain something, awakening a Divine Treasure in your body.

If you were unlucky, you could chant it tens of thousands of times, exhausting your entire life, and still gain nothing.

Furthermore, what ability you gained from awakening a Divine Treasure was also up to Heaven’s will.

There was once an ordinary Cultivator who chanted the Daoist Scripture a thousand times and obtained a Fire Spirit Body.

And there was a peerless prodigy who chanted wholeheartedly for three years and awakened a Divine Treasure—his hair grew longer.

...

This uncontrollable and unpredictable nature meant that very few people dedicated themselves to cultivating it.

But there was no denying that this technique was truly mysterious and profound.

The ability to continuously awaken the body’s Divine Treasures and unlock human potential simply by chanting—no one could deny that such a miraculous effect earned its status as a Celestial Level Cultivation Technique.

The Golden Jade Tower’s catalog even included analyses of [Daoist Canon - Celestial Derivation] by some High Cultivators.

"This technique isn’t without requirements; its threshold is just too high. What it demands is the most ethereal of things: comprehension..." —A note left by Daoist Yun He.

"No, I believe this technique requires luck and fate. One must be chosen by the heavens to succeed..." —An inscription by the Elder of Celestial Destiny.

"Is it possible that this is an incomplete technique, which is why its effects are so unpredictable..." —Written by an anonymous Cultivator

After browsing through everything, Zhong Ming realized that many people had studied Daoist Canon - Celestial Derivation.

But even those High Cultivators couldn’t fathom all of its mysteries.

And this made Zhong Ming lean even more towards it.

’Without the help of Heaven Rewards Diligence, this technique might truly be as the world says, completely dependent on Heaven’s will. And if it only relies on fate and luck, its value isn’t worthy of the Celestial Level.’

’But with Heaven Rewards Diligence, everything is different.’

’As long as the status panel can record it, no matter how difficult Daoist Canon - Celestial Derivation is, I can grind it out to Great Success through sheer perseverance!’

’Besides, whether the initial Divine Treasures I awaken are strong or weak isn’t the crucial part for me.’

’As long as I cultivate it persistently, I will eventually reach an extremely high realm in Daoist Canon - Celestial Derivation. Once my realm is high enough, even if my luck is terrible, I’m bound to awaken a decent Divine Treasure!’

Having made his decision, Zhong Ming no longer hesitated.

’Heaven Rewards Diligence, let me see your limits!’

With a low shout, Zhong Ming immediately pressed his hand against the stone stele inscribed with the scripture of "Daoist Canon - Celestial Derivation".

HUMMM!

As they made contact, in that instant, countless profound and abstruse messages of Dao Rhyme surged into Zhong Ming’s sea of consciousness like a tide.

The Daoist Scripture was exquisite, with every word seeming to contain the ultimate principles of heaven and earth.

"Before Primordial Chaos was judged and the Great Void known, the Dao Ancestor’s Great Dao hung as violet qi; From his dwelling in Chaos came profound verse, one breath dividing to birth the legions of immortals; Thus began the secret Chapter of the Primordium, the Dao Heart thrice cleansed to refine the mortal essence; The Five Spirits’ true qi rushes to the heavens, a boy of violet qi guards the Dantian..."

This profound information mesmerized Zhong Ming. As if blessed by a stroke of insight, he activated [Bright Mirror Stilled Water - Ripples] and [Mind Reading], then began to chant the words silently in his heart.

"Before Primordial Chaos was judged and the Great Void known, the Dao Ancestor’s Great Dao hung as violet qi; From his dwelling in Chaos came profound verse, one breath dividing to birth the legions of immortals..."

HUMMM...

As the scripture flowed through his mind, an indescribably wondrous change quietly occurred.

Zhong Ming felt his physical body merge with the surrounding heaven and earth, becoming one with the Celestial Dao, sharing the same origin as the Dao. It was as if he had become a part of the world itself, free of thought and care, leaving only pure comprehension.

This special Dao Rhyme also nourished his body and Divine Soul, causing them to begin a subtle and marvelous transformation.

This was reflected on the status panel as:

[You have chanted Daoist Canon - Celestial Derivation (Fragment). Progress for Daoist Canon - Celestial Derivation (Fragment) +11. Your Daoist Canon - Celestial Derivation has advanced. Current level: First Realm Initiation (11/12,960)]

[You have chanted Daoist Canon - Celestial Derivation and have begun to grasp its True Intent. Reading progress +33.]

[Ding! You have reached Initiation in Daoist Canon - Celestial Derivation and obtained a trait. Trait is currently gestating...]

One could only say that a Celestial Level Cultivation Technique was truly in a league of its own. For other techniques, Zhong Ming needed to raise his mastery to the Second Realm of Insight, or even the Third Realm of Refinement, just to obtain a single trait.

But with Daoist Canon - Celestial Derivation, a trait began gestating at mere Initiation. Its foundation was far beyond the ordinary.

What delighted Zhong Ming even more was that Heaven Rewards Diligence hadn’t disappointed him. Even a Celestial Level technique like Daoist Canon - Celestial Derivation had been incorporated into his status panel.

And this gave Zhong Ming a degree of control over Daoist Canon - Celestial Derivation.

Precisely because of this control, when it came time to awaken a Divine Treasure, he wasn’t entirely at the mercy of fate. Instead, he could vaguely sense the direction of the potential Divine Treasures hidden within his body.

’...The body is infinite, its Divine Treasures are infinite. Some call them Superpowers, some call them Talents, some call them physiques... But in Daoist Canon - Celestial Derivation, they are all Divine Treasures—the latent possibilities of the human body. Chanting the Daoist Scripture is to use a special rhythm to activate the possibility of awakening these Divine Treasures...’

’The reason Daoist Canon - Celestial Derivation activates different Divine Treasures in different people is because everyone’s constitution is different, so the traits that can manifest are also different. Right now, the Divine Treasure I can awaken is...’

’Clear Heart Song. This would allow me to speak and sing with greater rhythm, and it comes with an effect that can soothe the Heart Spirit.’

...

Sensing the first potential Divine Treasure he could awaken, Zhong Ming instantly understood why everyone said that what you awakened with Daoist Canon - Celestial Derivation was completely up to Heaven’s will.

Without any manipulation, there was a full fifty percent chance he would awaken the Clear Voice ability.

Fortunately, he had a degree of control over Daoist Canon - Celestial Derivation.

Therefore, while in his state of epiphany, he didn’t rush his decision. Instead, he used this opportunity to continue digging deeper into his body.

Soon, more hidden Divine Treasures entered his perception:

"Purity Body (Weak): Your body will not easily be stained by dust."

"Immune to Poison: Your body’s resistance to poisons has increased."

"Enhanced Vision: You can see farther..."

According to the description of Daoist Canon - Celestial Derivation, the human body has endless Divine Treasures. This was a good thing, meaning infinite potential.

But now, Zhong Ming discovered with some bitterness that if he couldn’t choose actively, having too many Divine Treasures was actually a burden—too many of them were of no practical use to a Cultivator.

’Good thing I’m hardworking enough, and Heaven Rewards Diligence is strong enough!’

Closing his eyes, under the effect of [Bright Mirror Stilled Water - Ripples], Zhong Ming let his Heart Spirit delve deeper into his body, exploring the possibilities within.

And soon, Zhong Ming discovered some useful Divine Treasures.

"Ancestral Dragon Blood: Awaken partial characteristics of the Flood Dragon bloodline. Greatly increases physical strength and affinity for Spiritual Power."

"Water Control: Your control over water currents is enhanced..."

...

Ignoring these, he rode the afterglow of his epiphany, continuing to probe ever deeper.

Finally, just as the epiphany was about to fade, his Heart Spirit touched upon a secret Divine Treasure deep within his flesh—a place of darkness and silence. And within this seemingly bottomless abyss, a slumbering eye was hidden.