Divine Inspiration
"Ahem." Taoist Li coughed dryly, his expression finally serious. He said solemnly, "To cut to the chase, an ancient tomb has appeared nearby, of astonishing scale. Many casual cultivators have already ventured there."
"This ancient tomb is said to be extremely perilous, with involvement from prominent families. Often, the danger from people exceeds that of the tomb itself."
"I'm old and frail, seeking your company today for mutual support."
Upon hearing this, Long Xuan frowned momentarily, contemplating. He felt his current strength was inadequate. Being at the mid-stage of the Juling Realm rendered him practically defenseless without an external Gu, severely limiting his combat abilities. He believed it wiser to further develop before venturing out of his comfort zone. With his current strength, he couldn't guarantee his safety and would rely solely on protagonist luck.
"Though treasures are tempting, surviving to enjoy them is paramount. It's best to bide one's time," Long Xuan reasoned, breaking the mold of immediately seizing opportunities as depicted in novels. Even if the tomb held valuable treasures, he wouldn't risk his life for them.
Having made his decision, Long Xuan stated firmly, "No. With major families involved, why should we small, scattered cultivators join the fray? I prefer to live longer; you can go on your own."
Seeing Long Xuan unmoved, Li Laodao understood. "I know your concerns are for personal safety."
"Don't fret; I guarantee 100% safety on this journey. We won't compete with major families for treasures. Our role will be to follow behind and pick up what they overlook."
"They often make mistakes or neglect things, opportunities we can capitalize on. Besides the scattered cultivators, with a few trusted friends forming a team, we'll be relatively worry-free."
Long Xuan inwardly scoffed at the idea. It sounded good in theory—everyone believed it before embarking on risks, but luck ran out every time.
"No need to persuade me. I keep my word. If I say I'm not going, I won't," Long Xuan affirmed resolutely.
Seeing Long Xuan's determination, Li Laodao didn't press further. He had intended to recruit more for safety in numbers; since Long Xuan declined, it was no big loss. He had many close companions.
"Well, as a youth, you're still cautious. If young folks don't take risks, are they truly young?" Li Laodao shook his head, turning to leave.
Long Xuan didn't see him off, remaining seated, contemplating how to design magical techniques for the Ten Absolute Scriptures.
Another month passed in a blur, rain beginning to patter outside. Just as Long Xuan moved to close the window, Li Laodao suddenly jumped in, startling him.
"Ahem..." Li Laodao coughed up blood, his clothes torn, body covered in wounds. He looked half-dead, clearly severely injured.
"Ahem... Damn it, wrong move. We didn't intend to compete with major clans for treasures. Just follow and pick up the scraps," Li Laodao cursed bitterly, nearly unhinged, coughing up blood again before quieting.
Long Xuan showed no surprise; it was expected. Nothing in the world was 100% safe. Even without major clans forcing exploration, internal conflicts over uneven treasure distribution would inevitably arise. Surviving alone was impossible.
"The outcome? Did anyone claim the tomb's treasures? What's the most valuable find?" Long Xuan asked curiously.
"No." Taoist Li shook his head. "The tomb is peculiar. Most casual cultivators perished, and even the big clans' Gu cultivators suffered heavy losses. Only a few escaped, leaving the most valuable treasures untouched."
"We salvaged various burial artifacts, some of astonishing value. Unfortunately, the richer they got, the stingier those major clan cultivators became, taking everything and leaving nothing for us."
"I didn't pick up treasures, just stumbled upon this incomplete martial arts manual."
Taoist Li produced a blood-stained, torn martial arts book, waving it before Long Xuan.
"Sun and Moon Heart Sutra?"
Reading the title, Long Xuan recognized its significance, eagerly flipping through it.
Taoist Li hesitated; didn't he understand the principle of not casually imparting teachings? Why was this young man so oblivious?
Though the manual was unusable in its current state, it held substantial reference value, not accessible to outsiders.
Under normal circumstances, Long Xuan would have sensed something amiss. Taoist Li knew of his detoxification pills, hinting at his alchemical skills—explaining why he sought Long Xuan's aid despite grave injuries. However, absorbed in his reading, Long Xuan overlooked these details.
Taoist Li quickly accepted the pills, consuming one to neutralize ancient tomb toxins, then refining the rest to heal.
Long Xuan entered a state of concentration.
"This 'Sun and Moon Heart Sutra' is extraordinary, worthy of an ancient tomb find."
The sutra harnesses spiritual power from heaven and earth, absorbing sun and moon essences to attain an apex spiritual physique.
Practitioners cultivate unique Yang, Moon, and Star spiritual powers.
Enhanced powers include external clones: Yang excels by day, while Moon and Star excel by night.
Each clone's prowess rivals the original, capable of autonomous practice and knowledge, body, and soul integration.
Coupled with the original's cultivation speed, practitioners progress fourfold faster than average.
This technique was game-changing, addressing Ten Absolute Scriptures' slow cultivation flaw.
Long Xuan was delighted; this was the perfect magical technique he sought.