Chapter 9: The Shaking Light Sutra

Deep within the Sunrise Divine Island, the atmosphere was filled with nature and tranquility, quite unlike what Li Yao had initially imagined. There were no grand palaces or luxurious buildings here.

Their destination lay within a bamboo grove, where the only structures were a few simple bamboo huts.

As the two arrived, an elderly man emerged from one of the huts. His body was bent, his skin deeply wrinkled. Were it not for preconceived notions, Li Yao might never have suspected this frail old man to be a formidable master.

Upon seeing the elder, Zhang Chong’s once defiant expression immediately softened, and he respectfully saluted.

“Uncle Master.”

“Zhang Chong, it’s you. I was wondering who would come to see this old man.”

“Apologies, Uncle Master. We didn’t want to disturb your peaceful cultivation, so we rarely visit unless necessary,” Zhang Chong said with a smile. Despite his robust and imposing appearance, there was a hint of deference in his tone.

The elder chuckled, “Heh, your looks hardly match your temperament.”

At Zhang Chong’s current cultivation level, few would dare to tease him like this; the elder before them was one of the rare exceptions.

Zhang Chong smiled sheepishly, not offended by the jest.

The elder then cast his gaze toward Li Yao. His eyes were cloudy, as if blurred by age. Li Yao sensed he was being examined, but it felt nothing like the invasive scrutiny he had endured from the ancient mirror of the Suspended Mirror Hall or Steward Yang, as though being stripped bare.

After a moment, a sharp gleam flashed in the elder’s dim eyes, dispelling the haze entirely.

Li Yao’s heart jolted. The elderly man before him seemed transformed; the feeble old man had vanished, replaced by a primordial beast.

An overwhelming, thunderous vitality surged forth, like rivers and seas in tumult. With a mere gesture, the skies could be torn asunder; a single stomp could shatter the earth for miles. This was no longer the image of a decrepit elder.

To reach the pinnacle of cultivation was to transcend humanity itself, evolving one’s life form to another realm. No wonder they said cultivation was a defiance of the natural order, a challenge to heaven and earth; this held true in every immortal world. It was truly an act against fate.

The powerful aura surged swiftly, then receded just as fast. The elder’s bent figure straightened somewhat, the gray pallor on his face fading.

“Haha, excellent, excellent,” he laughed heartily. Having lived over two thousand years, save for his reckless youth, moments of such joy were rare.

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“Zhang Chong, you and your son have done well, finding a prodigy for Sunrise Divine Island,” the elder said with delight.

Zhang Chong smiled too. He was not surprised by his uncle master’s joy. Although Sunrise Divine Island remained one of the twelve great sects of the Radiance Holy Land, its standing relied solely on the presence of this very elder.

All knew in the Radiance Holy Land that once this mighty figure—who had once contended for the Saint Lord position with Li Daoqing—passed on, Sunrise Divine Island would fall from the twelve great sects.

The elder cherished the island deeply, for all his fond memories were rooted here. Protecting the island was, in essence, preserving his past.

After two millennia, his sole obsession now was the legacy of Sunrise Divine Island.

“Disciple Li Yao pays respects…” Li Yao stepped forward to bow, unsure how to address him.

Calling him senior might sound distant, as they were now of the same lineage; addressing by rank was no clearer. Li Yao felt awkward.

“Just call me Old Xun. That’s what the younger generation calls me nowadays,” the elder said, reading Li Yao’s hesitation.

“Greetings, Old Xun.”

Xun’s gaze softened as he looked at Li Yao. He had returned to the form of a frail old man, but the previous faint aura of death had lifted considerably.

“Take him down and teach him the Radiance Sutra. Let him embark on the path of cultivation.”

Time was pressing. As a cultivator, he was acutely aware his lifespan was limited. Without life-extending elixirs, he could not hold on much longer. Within the time remaining, he must witness the future of Sunrise Divine Island.

Hearing this, Zhang Chong saluted and led Li Yao deeper into the bamboo grove.

“A joyous occasion lifts one’s spirit. Uncle Xun is much better today. Li Yao, train hard. From now on, Sunrise Divine Island will devote itself to nurturing you,” Zhang Chong said quietly as they walked.

“Thank you, Elder Zhang, for your trust. I will strive diligently in my cultivation,” Li Yao replied earnestly, determined not to waste any time.

“That’s the spirit.” Zhang Chong stopped and formed hand seals in a pattern too swift for Li Yao to discern. The seals wove together into an ancient character, radiating dazzling light.

This character did not belong to the current era’s script; Li Yao did not recognize it, yet upon seeing it, knowledge of the character’s meaning flooded his mind.

“Stop.”

Before great sects transmitted cultivation scriptures, they set seals to prevent the texts from spreading. No matter how valued Li Yao was, this step was unavoidable. Only through the seal could one learn the Radiance Sutra.

The seal flashed like a beam of light, instantly entering Li Yao’s consciousness, followed by a cultivation scripture.

“Heaven, earth, and man originate from the same primal energy. Human life receives the righteous qi of heaven and earth, the four seasons, and the five elements to form the human body—this is the ancestral unity. One’s body dwells within the four seasons and five elements of heaven and earth. Those who align with heaven and earth endure long; those who follow the seasons flourish daily.

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The Way contains no arcane words; it operates through the balance of yin and yang. Those who govern it prosper; those who lose it fall into chaos. Those who govern it are enlightened and divine; those who lose it cannot walk the Way. Yang transforms into yin, yin into yang. When yin and yang harmonize, the Way is fulfilled. When heaven and earth are balanced, all things find peace. Pure yang cannot exhaust the earth; pure yin cannot endlessly birth the heavens. Within yin is yang, within yang is yin. Yin and yang harmonize, and harmony dwells within.”

After a month of foundational training, Li Yao grasped the immense power of this scripture. Its cultivation philosophy was intoxicating. Yet such scripture was not easy to cultivate; it demanded innate talent.

“If so, then Heavenly Book, activate.” Li Yao’s thoughts stirred. He believed that with his comprehension, cultivating the Radiance Sutra would not be too difficult.

With a rustle, the Heavenly Book’s cover opened, brilliant light bursting forth. The dense aura of the Dao made enlightenment effortless.

The power of the Dao formed a brush. As Li Yao’s thoughts shifted, the scripture inscribed itself onto the pages within his mind.

Great sound is silent; great form is shapeless. The mighty force of the pages erupted. The inscription instantly underwent refinement; the “Sea of Suffering Scroll” was swiftly expanded and enhanced.

The original meaning remained unchanged. The Radiance Sutra was still the Radiance Sutra, only stronger. How much stronger, Li Yao did not know, for so far he had only seen one version of the Radiance Sutra with no other for comparison.

As the “Sea of Suffering Scroll” was refined, Li Yao mastered it in an instant, as if he had labored over it for ten years.

Surging vitality was drawn into his body, igniting circulation. Li Yao immediately sat cross-legged and began his cultivation.