Chapter One Hundred Thirty-One: The Floating Dust Daoist

Chen Mu began to revisit and study the "Great Sun Ancient Scripture" during this period. Previously, he had only cultivated it according to the methods explained by Rou'er, but now, as he delved into it himself, he found it increasingly profound and inscrutable.

In particular, he noted that this technique largely required the integration of bloodline power; cultivating it was meant to activate innate bloodline magical arts. Chen Mu, however, had only been using the technique to refine Yang-attribute vitality, and as for the bloodline powers, he hadn't even seen a glimmer of them. Although this renewed study and practice had failed to activate any bloodline abilities, his understanding of the technique had deepened considerably.

Indeed, top-tier techniques were not easily mastered, especially those handed down from the Immortal Realm. It seemed that fully grasping the "Great Sun Ancient Scripture" would require even more time. It was not that Chen Mu lacked insight, but rather that the starting point of this technique was too high. Many of its terms and syntaxes were incomprehensible even to people of the Immortal Realm, as it originated from the ancient human clans of the primeval Immortal Realm—a period dating back to when humanity first learned from the Demon race to create their own techniques. Being able to understand even a fraction through Rou'er's guidance was already quite impressive, though generally, there remained some discrepancies.

The text of the scripture was particularly dense, with every word carrying profound Daoist implications. Chen Mu could only grasp the literal meaning, while the root essence remained elusive. He had previously thought understanding the surface level was sufficient, but now he realized how naive he had been. These days of intense study had left him somewhat exhausted; the sheer complexity made him feel as though he could no longer proceed. Since he could not master it through brute force, he decided to set it aside for now. Rather than stubbornly hitting a wall, it was better to improve his strength while seeking other solutions.

During this time, Hou Ying had continued to search for Chen Mu and his companion. After spending a week in the city without finding any leads, he could no longer afford to waste time. With a sullen, frustrated expression, he departed from Zhutai City with all his disciples. Their departure brought a sense of relief to Chen Mu. He and Xue Tian had finally shaken off the trouble. While he was not worried about their identities being exposed, living in someone else's skin had been quite unsettling.

Xue Tian had been in seclusion all this while. Chen Mu had originally hoped to consult him on cultivation; after all, Xue Tian was a being from the ancient era of the Immortal-Demon Realm and could surely provide some inspiration for the "Great Sun Ancient Scripture." This was not to say that Rou'er’s insights were inferior, but as a member of the Demon race, she did not fully grasp human cultivation methods. The Demon race was different; human cultivation techniques were created by referencing the methods of the demons. It was because of the demonic path that the Daoist path emerged, eventually leading to what is now known as the "Immortal." Before the advent of demonic cultivation, humans had other methods—such as savage or shamanistic cultivation—but they were insufficient to resist the Demons and the Spirit beasts. It was only with the rise of demonic and Daoist paths that humanity stepped onto the stage of mythic history and began to flourish.

One day, Xue Tian emerged from seclusion, looking vibrant and imposing. It seemed his retreat had been highly fruitful. Chen Mu sensed that Xue Tian’s strength had reached a deeper level, and he resolved that he must work harder; he absolutely could not oppose Xue Tian until he had surpassed him.

"Looking so spirited, I assume your seclusion was successful?" Chen Mu asked casually.

"Hehehe, a small gain, a small gain," Xue Tian chuckled with a raspy, eerie laugh.

"What shall we do now? Should we stay in this city to develop, or go elsewhere? I intend to join a faction; it would make cultivation easier with the support of a sect," Chen Mu said after some thought.

"Hmm, your idea is sound; being a rogue cultivator is indeed difficult. Let’s head elsewhere. There’s no opportunity to be found in this city, so we might as well travel while we cultivate. If you find a decent sect, you may join it," Xue Tian agreed. Then, shifting his tone, he added with a weird cackle, "However, you could also join me in searching for the Ten Directions Heavenly Demon Palace. I believe your future would be much broader if you joined the Demon race with me. Your decisive and ruthless style is truly suited for demonic arts. Won't you reconsider joining my kin?"

"Forget it. I have no interest in joining the Demon race," Chen Mu rolled his eyes and waved him off.

Xue Tian had expected this answer; it was a routine rejection, so he didn't take it to heart. He was merely harboring a glimmer of hope—if Chen Mu agreed, it would be a gain of a talented individual for the Demon race. He already knew Chen Mu’s bloodline was extraordinary, likely a descendant of those ancient human clans, making him a talent worth pursuing. Most importantly, he admired Chen Mu's ability to act against the grain, his decisiveness, and his nonconformist nature, which stood in stark contrast to the hypocritical, power-hungry leaders of the Immortal Realm who used moral pretexts to oppress others.

Xue Tian had actually intended to take Chen Mu as a disciple long ago, having mentioned as much when they first met. Though that was originally a ruse to facilitate possession, after being forced away by Chen Mu, he had genuinely developed the intent to mentor him, which was why he kept trying to recruit him into the demonic camp.

With that, the two finished their packing and checked out of the inn, setting off from Zhutai City to find a new place to join a sect. Half a month had passed since leaving the city, during which Chen Mu had frequently consulted Xue Tian on the "Great Sun Ancient Scripture." Under Xue Tian's guidance, obscure points were quickly clarified. However, this only addressed the symptoms, not the root cause: Chen Mu lacked the cultural context and the foundational knowledge of the ancient Immortal-Demon Realm, making deep interpretation difficult. Although the writing systems of the small world and the Immortal Realm shared a common origin, the passage of time had caused them to diverge significantly. Thus, Xue Tian began teaching Chen Mu not just the technique itself, but also the history, knowledge, and linguistic nuances of the ancient era—things Xue Tian had studied specifically to invade the human realm back then.

With the new insights into the "Great Sun Ancient Scripture," Chen Mu’s Yang-attribute vitality became more concentrated and refined. The error rate in his circulation routes decreased, and the bottleneck for breaking through to the Origin Core Realm loosened slightly.

One day, as they walked slowly along a plain road—a place usually sparsely populated—they saw many cultivators rushing past from the left, as if they were all heading to the same destination. Chen Mu was curious. Most of these cultivators were at the Origin Core Realm; what could possibly be driving so many of them in one direction? Soon, even an early-stage Nascent Soul Realm cultivator flew past in the same direction. It seemed something significant had happened.

Chen Mu wanted to investigate, and though it deviated from their route, he decided to follow. He asked Xue Tian about his plans, and since Xue Tian had no leads on the Ten Directions Heavenly Demon Palace, he was happy to continue traveling with Chen Mu. Having Xue Tian’s company was safer, as Chen Mu did not have to face dangers alone. In the Bixiao Continent, Chen Mu was no longer the unstoppable force he had been in the Yuanyao Continent; he was only slightly stronger than his peers, or perhaps two minor realms stronger if he used the "Blood Burning Transformation" technique.

To clarify the situation, Chen Mu approached a four-member team of Origin Core cultivators and flew alongside them. "Fellow Daoists, please don't be alarmed. I am Chen Mu, and I bear no ill will. May I ask where everyone is heading?"

The four were wary at first, sensing a dangerous aura from Xue Tian, but seeing that Chen Mu was polite, they held back. One woman looked at Chen Mu and said, "You are young yet have impressive cultivation. I cannot see through you, but you must be at the Origin Core Realm to keep up with us. Being so secretive makes it hard to trust you."

Chen Mu gave a wry smile. If he revealed his true Origin Base Realm cultivation, he would be ignored or disdained. "My technique is unique; it automatically conceals my aura. Please forgive the misunderstanding," he lied smoothly.

The woman, pleased by his polite address, replied, "I see. It’s no secret. We are heading to the Hengtian Plains. A subterranean cave has appeared there, rumored to be the residence of the late Daoist Fuchen. He perished recently while attempting to transcend the Dharma Manifestation Realm tribulation, and his cave was discovered by someone. Now, cultivators are converging there, hoping to find treasures."