âAt that time, my body will transform into a Celestial Human Body. Iâll achieve a preliminary form of immortalityâa flawless physique, impervious to all techniques, with eternally sustained vitality...â
âThe Candlelight Heart Eye is an ocular Divine Treasure, a Consciousness Divine Treasure, and even more, itâs of the heart... It occupies a position in my Heart Acupoint!â
At this moment, Zhong Ming only had a vague sense of something.
But as his Immersion deepened, Zhong Ming began to comprehend the more profound mysteries of the Daoist Canon.
Toward the end, his consciousness blurred, and he even perceived his body becoming Chaos, from which a world and myriad gods were being birthed.
â...The human body holds infinite mysteries and limitless potential. Thus, the body can evolve into a world, and Divine Treasures can evolve into myriad gods...â
â...If all forty-eight thousand gods are fully developed and combined into a Celestial Court with my Heart Spirit and Soul Intent as the core... then, having unlocked my bodyâs full potential and gained command over everything, I will be able to achieve physical apotheosis...â
Merging with the Daoist Canon - Celestial Derivation caused countless insights and mysteries to flow through Zhong Mingâs mind.
Perhaps it was because his realm was too low, or perhaps his Heart Soulâs power was limited and his subconscious was protecting him. In any case, during the latter stages of this Immersion, Zhong Mingâs senses became extremely blurred, as if he were in a phantasmal dream.
The kind you barely remember upon waking.
This sense of forgetting left Zhong Ming feeling a little wistful after he woke up.
But in the next moment, he had no time to dwell on it.
As Zhong Mingâs consciousness cleared, a series of system notifications rang in his ears.
[You have recited the Daoist Canon - Celestial Derivation. During your recitation, you activated Mind Reading and triggered Immersion. You have merged with the Daoist Canon - Celestial Derivation...]
[You have gained new understanding and insight into the Daoist Canon - Celestial Derivation. Your Daoist Canon - Celestial Derivation Cultivation Technique progress +339, Reading progress +11.]
[Your Daoist Canon - Celestial Derivation progress is full. You have advanced.]
[Daoist Canon - Celestial Derivation, Second Realm: Insight (17/84,000). Traits: â Divine Treasure: Candlelight Heart Eye, ⥠Divine Treasure...]
[You have entered a state of epiphany and are gestating a Divine Treasure...]
[Congratulations, your Divine Treasure has gestated successfully. You have obtained a new Divine TreasureâGreat Dream of Thousand Years!]
After reading the system notifications, Zhong Ming had a sudden realization.
âSo, the phantasmal dream I had toward the end wasnât just because of the Immersion, but also the epiphany and the influence of the Divine Treasure: Great Dream of Thousand Years?â
Raising an eyebrow, Zhong Ming prepared to experience the specific abilities of the Great Dream of Thousand Years.
However, before he could calm his heart, his arm was gently shaken.
Turning his head, Zhong Ming saw Yi Yunya, who had shaken him awake. Her face was etched with anxiety and worry.
Before Zhong Ming could ask, she spoke up. "Senior Brother, arenât we going to see Princess Qingyue anymore?"
"Of course weâre going, but itâs still early. We agreed to meet at 10:00 AM, and itâs only..." As he spoke, Zhong Ming glanced at the sky, and then he froze.
The Sun was already nearing its zenith, which meant:
âIâm going to be late? How did it get so late? It was just early morning when I was Reading the Daoist Canon... Is this the influence of the Great Dream of Thousand Years?â
...
Regardless of the reason, Zhong Ming could delay no longer. Forgetting about inspecting the abilities of Great Dream of Thousand Years, he informed the group from the Seven Profound Sectâs residence and led the way toward Princess Qingyueâs Mansion.
As a Cultivator, Zhong Ming arrived in just a few minutes.
But because he had started so late, he was inevitably late.
To his surprise, it seemed Princess Qingyue had been planning to take him to learn the technique as soon as he arrived, which meant she had already been waiting at the entrance for some time.
âThis is my mistake.â
With that thought, Zhong Ming quickened his pace. But before he could get close, he heard a sharp, female voice dripping with cold sarcasm from a distance.
"Princess, a full cup of teaâs time has passed, and the person youâre waiting for still hasnât arrived!"
Zhong Ming recognized the womanâs voice. It was laced with complaint, impatience, and a hint of accusation. She was the young attendant who had been with Ji Qingyue when Princess Qingyue first received the Seven Profound Sect.
Zhong Ming hadnât forgotten that this disciple of Qianqiu Valley had also tried to sow discord between them at the end of their last meeting.
Now, her attitude toward Ji Qingyue was not particularly respectful either.
But this time, Ji Qingyue was indeed in a slightly awkward position, which made her give an apologetic smile. "He is indeed a bit late, but Young Master Zhong is not someone who breaks his promises. I believe he must have been delayed by something."
"Hmph!" Lin Qingqing was not convinced. She snorted coldly, her tone harsh. "What could possibly be more important than meeting you, Princess!"
"For you to recruit him is a blessing heâs earned over several lifetimes! It is his greatest fortune! For him to be so perfunctory and dismissive under these circumstances shows his vile character and narrow-mindedness."
"Thereâs no need to recruit such a useless piece of wood."
As she finished speaking, she swept her gaze over the people behind Ji Qingyue, her cold smile widening as she broadened her attack. "Princess, if I were you, I wouldnât bother playing these childish games. If youâre counting on people from these minor sects, you donât stand a chance."
"Only with the support of Major Sects like ours can you hope to achieve your goals, Princess."
"In my opinion, Princess, you might as well drive away this whole crowd of sycophantic freeloaders. It will save you from endless trouble in the future and prevent them from tarnishing your good name..."
These blunt words made Princess Qingyueâs expression turn ugly. The faces of the people standing behind her were ashen with fury.
However, they had their reservations and didnât dare say a word.
Just as the scene fell into a tense stalemate, the crisp sound of clapping suddenly rang out.
"Well said, Princess! You really should clear some people out, lest they tarnish your good name... For example, some arrogant, conceited trash who do nothing but bark!"
"???"
The sudden voice silenced the entire area.
When someone had just seemed to agree with Lin Qingqingâs words about clearing out the trash, the Cultivators who followed Princess Qingyue had been scanning the surroundings with furious expressions.
And soon, they noticed Zhong Ming approaching step by step.
But just as they glared at him, before they could even reveal their Sha Qi, they heard the rest of Zhong Mingâs sentence. This made them realize in an instant that he wasnât targeting themâthe Cultivators from small sectsâbut rather, Lin Qingqing.
This scene left them utterly stunned, and a series of suppressed gasps erupted from the crowd.
"That person... thatâs Zhong Ming, right?"
"It should be... But how does he dare?"
It wasnât just the Cultivators from ordinary sects who couldnât understand where Zhong Ming got the nerve to be so arrogant. Even Lin Qingqing herself, a disciple of Qianqiu Valley, never imagined someone would dare to insult her. She froze on the spot, the arrogance on her face completely replaced by disbelief.
It took her a long moment to react. When she did, her gaze toward Zhong Ming was as cold as a blade, and her tone was glacial. "Were you... talking about me?"