Chapter 1: Cultivating Immortality

“All things have a place of origin, a birthplace from which they emerge and grow. Within our bodies, too, lies such a place—the very root of our vitality, the wellspring where all the essence of life is stored. This is known as the Wheel of Life’s Source, or simply, the Wheel of Life.”

Upon a mist-shrouded, serene immortal mountain, an old man and a boy sat cross-legged. All around them, lush trees thrived, streams cascaded into waterfalls, and cranes soared gracefully through the air—everything vibrant and natural, as if the pair were dwelling in a secret realm of immortals. As the elder explained the foundations of cultivation, the entire scene seemed otherworldly.

“Li Yao, do you know where this starting point lies?” the old man asked gently, his expression kind and warm.

At the question, the boy, Li Yao, pointed below his navel. “Is it here?”

Seeing where Li Yao’s finger landed, the old man could not help but laugh heartily. “A teachable child indeed! Truly a born prodigy for the immortal path, a genius whose Sea of Bitterness opened on its own—so perceptive with just a hint!”

This old man, a figure akin to an immortal, would never show such warmth even to ordinary disciples, let alone mere mortals. His attitude toward Li Yao was entirely due to the boy’s extraordinary talent, his very presence suffused with the aura of the Dao. Though Li Yao had no peculiar, rare constitution, with such natural gifts, once he embarked upon the path of cultivation, he would be no less than those born with exceptional physiques.

Hearing the elder’s praise, Li Yao’s lips curved with a faint smile. He had been apprenticed to the Celestial Sun Grotto for just over a month, spending the time learning the basics of cultivation.

His efforts had been diligent—so much so that in only a month, he had grasped nearly all foundational knowledge of the path. Such focus and progress were hardly fitting for a child of ten.

But Li Yao was no ordinary ten-year-old. He was a transmigrant, a soul from another world—a journey in which, as is often the case, a certain large truck played its part.

As for crossing worlds, Li Yao found little to complain about. Orphaned early, his father dead and mother fled, he’d been thrust into the harshness of society from a young age. After ten years, both body and spirit were exhausted. Now, he had been reborn in a world where the strong could live for ages, split oceans with their hands, and shatter stars with their roars. Here, he could walk the road of cultivation and perhaps become such a figure himself—how could he not feel content?

The basics of cultivation were tedious, vast in scope, and as difficult to memorize as reciting hundreds of ancient essays. Yet, perhaps due to his transmigration, he had been born without the usual clouding of memories—his mind and recall were exceptionally sharp. After his parents in this life were slain by bandits, and old sorrows awakened his past-life memories, his spirit only grew stronger, his memory keener.

Li Yao knew exactly what he wanted, and so he applied himself to his studies with unwavering focus. Relying on his extraordinary memory, he grasped the foundations of cultivation in a single month.

As the elder’s daily lesson drew to a close, he watched Li Yao’s departing figure and thought to himself that the time was nearly right.

The Celestial Sun Grotto, as a subordinate sect of the Radiant Light Holy Land, was tasked with seeking out budding talents to send to the Holy Land. With the Holy Land’s disciples numbering in the millions, each considered a prodigy in the Eastern Wilderness, it would be impossible to find them all without such networks.

After Li Yao’s aptitude had been tested, the Grotto had planned to send him to the Radiant Light Holy Land. Now that his foundational teaching was complete, only a formal inspection from the Holy Land remained. Once Li Yao’s progress was verified, the Grotto would have accomplished a great merit.

…

Li Yao, unaware of all this, returned to his quarters after the day’s lesson and tightly shut his doors and windows.

As a transmigrator, Li Yao naturally had his own golden finger. After all, how could one hope to surpass all the prodigies and ascend to the pinnacle without a little help? What did he think he was—the Supreme Body, with an invincible little sister?

As Li Yao calmed his mind, a book appeared in his consciousness. Its cover was a pale yellow, ancient and unadorned, so plain it might serve only to prop up a table. Yet this book possessed a heaven-defying power: the ability to comprehend and deduce Daoist texts. By inscribing scriptures upon its pages, it could meditate upon and unravel their mysteries, then directly impart them into Li Yao’s mind. Even incomplete texts could be expanded by the Heavenly Book, which could extrapolate from fragments to create entirely new scriptures.

The might of any derived scripture depended on the energy stored within the Heavenly Book.

There were two ways to charge it. First, the book could slowly absorb the energy of heaven and earth by itself. Second, Li Yao could use resources rich in primordial essence to recharge it.

Li Yao’s extraordinary Dao aura and self-opened Sea of Bitterness were, in fact, the result of the Heavenly Book’s slow absorption of spiritual energy from the world—he, as its master, was bathed in this essence, which cleansed his body and opened his own potential.

Now, with the foundations of cultivation learned, it would not be long before he received his first set of true cultivation scriptures—then the Heavenly Book would come into play.

The book had been with him since his birth. Over ten years, though its rate of absorption was slow, opening the cover revealed that the first page now shone with a brilliant light, signaling that it was fully charged and ready to use.

After gazing at the Heavenly Book for a while, Li Yao let his mind settle into calmness and soon fell asleep.

The next day, dawn’s golden light filled the world, and the three-legged golden crow soared across the sky, casting sunlight upon the earth.

The Celestial Sun Grotto, as a place of cultivation, was graced with plants that seemed to bask in the very essence of sun and moon—verdant grass and trees like carved jade, towering ancient woods, fragrant herbs, spirit birds darting about, rare beasts roaming, and sacred springs bubbling forth.

Upon waking, Li Yao tidied his bedding and stepped outside. There was still time before his lesson, and he intended to eat a little before class. But just then, a thunderous roar shook the sky.

From the distant horizon came the sound of something tearing through the heavens—three divine rainbows streaked toward the mountain.

A moment later, as if thousands of troops were charging forth, more bestial roars resounded behind the rainbows, with mist billowing and rosy clouds blanketing the sky. Ten ancient behemoths, relics of primordial times, soared through the air, each bearing a cultivator on its back. Though they walked upon clouds, the force of their arrival was like thunder, as if an army of tens of thousands was descending.

These were all rare and fierce beasts, their scales gleaming and appearances terrifying. Seated atop the largest was a cultivator holding a great banner, its fabric snapping in the wind with overwhelming majesty. Upon it, four bold characters proclaimed: Radiant Light Holy Land!

Such a grand display and imposing presence! The three rainbows at the front, followed by ten monstrous beasts each bearing a powerful cultivator—though their numbers were few, their arrival made the very sky tremble, like an endless legion of heavenly soldiers had descended.

Above, the shouts of people and beasts mingled as clouds churned and killing intent surged, like a vast tide sweeping in.

Li Yao was stunned—so many powerful figures, and from none other than the Radiant Light Holy Land, one of the Eastern Wilderness’s most elite sects!

“Wait, isn’t the Celestial Sun Grotto a subordinate branch of the Radiant Light Holy Land? They should be allies, not enemies—no danger here,” Li Yao murmured to himself, his nervousness easing somewhat.

Since there was a connection, as long as he kept a low profile and stayed away from the Holy Land’s strongmen, nothing should go wrong.

For now, he was far too weak—not yet even on the path of cultivation. In the presence of such great powers, he was as insignificant as an ant.

“Best not to go out today. I’ll ask for a day’s leave from lessons as well,” Li Yao decided inwardly.

He resolved to stay put and avoid showing himself before the visitors from the Holy Land. True strength was the foundation of confidence, and Li Yao knew his own limits—best to keep his head down for now.

But fate often has other plans. Though he wished to remain hidden, trouble came seeking him out. After a quick meal, just as he was about to return to his room, a figure swiftly approached his door.

It was a disciple of the Celestial Sun Grotto, someone who had cultivated for years and was strong enough to ride divine rainbows through the sky.

Li Yao recognized him—this disciple was well-known, ranking just below the top ten in the Grotto.

Not daring to be rude, Li Yao hurried to meet him. As he prepared to bow in greeting, suddenly his arm was caught.

That hand only lightly touched Li Yao, but it was enough—he found himself unable to bow at all.