“Please show yourself, Senior.”

The moment Qi Yuan agreed, a voice filled with the vicissitudes of time and profound depth suddenly echoed in his mind.

“Young friend, not only can I see that you are concealing your innate talent and cultivation level, but I can also tell that your aptitude is exceptionally high. You are just one step away from condensing a Divine Splendor Nascent Soul. You must be a peerless genius rarely seen in this world.”

He’s been seen through?

Qi Yuan’s heart gave a violent leap.

So Lin Zhen really does have an ‘old grandpa’ accompanying him.

He possessed the talent [Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing], yet the other party could see through it at a glance. This meant the other was at least a Dao Integration realm mighty figure, or even higher!

As if seeing through Qi Yuan’s thoughts, that ethereal, drifting voice sounded again.

“Young friend, do not worry unnecessarily. I am not concerned with your identity, nor do I care about your purpose for hiding it.”

“I merely observe that you show some promise and are Lin Zhen’s closest friend. Therefore, I intend to point you toward the right path to prevent you from straying onto a misguided one and facing future regret.”

Hearing this, Qi Yuan’s spirit tensed, and his expression grew solemn.

“Senior, please speak freely. This junior will listen attentively to your guidance.”

The mysterious voice paused briefly before slowly saying, “Do you know what the Path of the Heavenly Dao is?”

“This junior does not know.” Qi Yuan shook his head, adopting a posture of earnest listening. “I ask Senior to enlighten me.”

Even as the Holy Scion of the Supreme Mystery Sanctuary, he truly hadn’t heard of what the Path of the Heavenly Dao was.

“The so-called Path of the Heavenly Dao refers to when a cultivator, after entering the Dao, achieves flawless breakthroughs at every major realm boundary, aligning perfectly with the Heavenly Dao.”

“During Foundation Building, one must achieve Heavenly Dao Foundation Building. When forming the Golden Core, one must also achieve a Heavenly Dao Golden Core. Then comes Heavenly Dao Nascent Soul, Heavenly Dao Soul Formation… all the way until condensing an Immortal Position and ascending to become an Immortal.”

“In this process, if one missteps even once, all previous efforts will be wasted. At that point, no matter how exceptional one’s cultivation talent is, they will at most be able to reach only the Great Ascension realm in their lifetime, unable to become an Immortal or attain the Dao.”

“Therefore, the Path of the Heavenly Dao is a path to immortality. Only by walking this path can one cross the tribulation to become an Immortal, ascend to the Immortal Realm, and glimpse the Great Path of Longevity.”

The Path of the Heavenly Dao!

Qi Yuan’s expression changed slightly. No wonder no one in this world has ascended to immortality for hundreds of thousands of years. The conditions for becoming an Immortal were actually so stringent.

Every major realm breakthrough must be flawless and perfect, allowing not even the slightest error. The difficulty was simply staggering.

Thinking of his own situation, Qi Yuan couldn’t help but frown.

His previous method of Foundation Building was Derivation Method Foundation Building—using the Jade Record of Supreme Mystery as a foundation to derive the true meaning of the Dao.

This method of Foundation Building was extremely difficult; very few succeeded. Once completed, one could look down upon their peers with pride. However, it clearly was not Heavenly Dao Foundation Building.

And the Golden Core he formed was also an unparalleled top-grade Golden Core among ten thousand, yet it was not a Heavenly Dao Golden Core either.

This meant he currently was not walking on the Path of the Heavenly Dao at all. Even if he successfully condensed a Heavenly Dao Nascent Soul this time, his two previous realm breakthroughs would still be considered failures—his hope for immortality would be lost!

However…

Qi Yuan’s thoughts raced like lightning as he quickly sorted through his reasoning.

Since this mysterious elder brought this up, it was unlikely he did so just to mock him. Judging by the other’s tone regarding the Path of the Heavenly Dao, there must certainly be a remedy!

Thinking this, Qi Yuan’s expression turned serious as he respectfully asked:

“Senior, if one did not step onto the Path of the Heavenly Dao during previous breakthroughs, is there any way to remedy it afterward?”

“Of course there is,” the mysterious voice said leisurely. “The Heavenly Dao is supremely just and righteous; naturally, it leaves living beings a sliver of opportunity for remedy. Although your two previous breakthroughs were not perfect, fortunately, your Dao Foundation is solid and your innate talent is extraordinary. It is not impossible to mend these flaws; however, it requires one Heaven-Mending Pill.”

“The Heaven-Mending Pill is a Saint-rank elixir. It only has an effect when taking the first pill and can only mend the flaws left by your two previous breakthroughs.”

“If you fail to condense a Heavenly Dao Nascent Soul during your current attempt as well… then all hope is lost. No amount of Heaven-Mending Pills will help. This is precisely why I specifically reminded you today.”

Heaven-Mending Pill?

Hearing this, Qi Yuan’s expression instantly froze. The system mall did have Heaven-Mending Pills; the problem was each pill cost one million Counterattack Points.

During this period, he had worked himself to death grinding tasks and had saved up less than five thousand Counterattack Points. It would take forever to accumulate one million.

Regardless of the outcome… it was still better than having no hope at all.

Qi Yuan took a deep breath; for now, he could only comfort himself like this.

“For you right now, the most important thing is condensing a Heavenly Dao Nascent Soul. With your aptitude… if you can find a wisp of Heavenly Dao Qi… there is still a chance to condense one.”

“There are two types of Heavenly Dao Qi: one is Heavenly Dao Merit Qi; the other is Heavenly Dao Creation Qi. Each time you break through a realm boundary… you must first find one type of this Heavenly Dao Qi… Only then might you achieve a perfect breakthrough.”

“So that’s how it is.”

Qi Yuan instantly understood.

To walk the Path of the Heavenly Dao… one not only needs monstrously talented Spirit Roots… but also must fuse with a wisp of Heavenly Dao Qi during breakthrough to achieve a perfect breakthrough… These two requirements are indispensable.

Since his first two breakthroughs were not perfect… to regain his chance for immortality… he must take a Heaven-Mending Pill to mend those defects.

Thinking this far… his inner astonishment grew even greater.

None of the many ancient texts within the Supreme Mystery Sanctuary contained even a single word about this Path of the Heavenly Dao… This matter clearly belonged among top-secret knowledge… Who exactly was this mysterious elder… that he knew about it so thoroughly?

This concerned ascending to immortality! The value of this information was simply immeasurable!

Just as Qi Yuan was lost in thought, the mysterious elder’s voice once again echoed in his mind… this time carrying a hint of warning.

“I have already told you what you need to do… As for whether you can actually find Heavenly Dao Qi and refine a Heavenly Dao Nascent Soul… that depends entirely on yourself now.”

“Also… I will not tell Lin Zhen about you hiding your identity… You must not reveal what I just told you either… And do NOT try to pry into my true identity… Otherwise… don’t blame me for turning ruthless.”

“If by chance you successfully condense a Heavenly Dao Nascent Soul… you may come see me then… I have something I need you to do for me.”

“After completing that task… I can tell you where to obtain a Heaven-Mending Pill… If you cannot condense a Heavenly Dao Nascent Soul… all talk ends here!”

With those words spoken, the voice abruptly ceased.

Qi Yuan snapped back to reality and hurriedly bowed deeply.

“Thank you, Senior, for your guidance… This junior is immensely grateful…”

After a while… these words still received no response whatsoever… Clearly, the mysterious elder had already withdrawn.

At that moment… Lin Zhen’s voice, full of curiosity, reached his ears.

“Brother Qi… What did Old Shi just tell you?”

“Nothing much…”

Qi Yuan reined in his emotions and shook his head with a complex expression. “He just saw my cultivation method was incorrect and gave some pointers…”

Just now, the conversation between him and the elder was conducted via divine sense transmission… Lin Zhen naturally couldn’t hear anything.

But… This mysterious elder is surnamed Shi?

Lin Zhen seemed unaware he had let something slip, still wearing an earnest expression as he said:

“Brother Qi, please don’t reveal Old Shi’s existence. He doesn’t want his identity leaked…”

“No problem…”

Qi Yuan nodded while inwardly pondering.

This world had many powerful figures surnamed Shi… One of the Supreme Elders of the Boundless Sanctuary was surnamed Shi too…

Of course, compared to the Boundless Sanctuary’s Supreme Elder, this was more likely some ancient mighty figure…

Just as his thoughts wandered wildly… Lin Zhen’s mind suddenly erupted with a string of furious curses.

“You damn kid! How many times have I told you?! Don’t reveal this Old Man’s name in front of others! Yet here you go, just blurting out my surname!”

Lin Zhen scratched his head. “Old Shi, I figured Brother Qi isn’t an outsider, so no need to keep secrets, right?”

“Infuriates this Old Man! Even a blockhead like you gets immortal fate… the Heavens have truly gone mad…”