’True Sight, As Clear as Daylight, Purifying Flame... and now another unknown ability is developing. Are Celestial Level Cultivation Techniques really this terrifying?!’

Filled with awe, Zhong Ming didn’t realize that while normal Celestial Level Cultivation Techniques were powerful, they weren’t *this* powerful.

The Daoist Canon - Celestial Derivation was different.

Of course, what was even more powerful was Heaven Rewards Diligence. Without it adding the Daoist Canon - Celestial Derivation to his status panel, Zhong Ming could have never reached the Initiation stage just by reciting it once.

It would have been even more impossible for him to unlock a Divine Treasure on the level of the Candlelight Heart Eye at the Initiation stage.

Normally, one would only gain the Clear Voice ability after reciting it for three to five years.

Furthermore, Zhong Ming’s physical body and Divine Soul were strong enough to support the evolution of his Candlelight Heart Eye to its second stage.

—True Sight and As Clear as Daylight were both first-stage abilities.

The Purifying Flame was a second-stage ability, and the new ability currently developing within the Candlelight Heart Eye was also at the second stage.

HUMMM...

Within Zhong Ming’s perception, Solar Power compressed and condensed inside his Candlelight Heart Eye.

The crimson Flame was slowly compressed until it turned golden, and a sacred, radiant power was also extracted.

’Sacred, righteous, breaking evil and corruption, with the piercing power of light... Its name is—Breaking Evil Golden Light!’

This was the fourth ability born from Zhong Ming’s Candlelight Heart Eye.

At this point, Zhong Ming’s Candlelight Heart Eye could be described as such: its golden light broke evil, leaving demons and illusions nowhere to hide. The moment the magic eye opened, all true forms would be revealed.

But this was still not the limit of the Candlelight Heart Eye.

However, a third-stage ability... ultimately failed to manifest.

This hadn’t happened because there wasn’t enough solar power, nor because the Candlelight Heart Eye’s potential had been exhausted.

The Great Sun hung high in the sky, its energy nearly infinite. Since Zhong Ming’s Candlelight Heart Eye could directly absorb Solar Power, energy was not a concern.

As for its potential, Zhong Ming had a strange intuition about the eye’s deepest mysteries; he felt that the number of times it could evolve would far exceed his imagination.

The reason Zhong Ming had been forced to stop was that his physical body had reached its limit.

Before cultivating, Zhong Ming had learned from the Golden Jade Tower’s introduction that the Daoist Canon - Celestial Derivation was a Secret Technique for unlocking a Divine Treasure, and that it was intimately related to Body Forging.

Now, Zhong Ming understood this on a much deeper level.

BOOM!

As the Candlelight Heart Eye absorbed more and more Solar Power, the temperature it radiated inside Zhong Ming’s body climbed steadily.

Now, even when it wasn’t using As Clear as Daylight, it still made Zhong Ming’s body turn crimson, as if a raging fire were burning through his meridians.

At this point, how could Zhong Ming not understand? The Candlelight Heart Eye resided within him, supported by his physical body.

If he wanted to continue improving the quality of his Candlelight Heart Eye, he first had to increase his physical strength.

’It’s a pity. As good as the Daoist Canon is, it’s only a method for unlocking a Divine Treasure and has no Body Forging function...’ SLAP!

Before he could finish his thought, Zhong Ming slapped himself. He had just remembered something—the Daoist Canon - Celestial Derivation was incomplete.

’So, does that mean the complete Daoist Canon - Celestial Derivation not only unlocks a Cultivator’s Divine Treasure but also has the effect of tempering the physical body?’

’It might even allow one to choose which Divine Treasure to unlock at will.’

’If that’s the case, then by cultivating this technique to the point of perfection, a Cultivator would obtain a body that possesses thousands of Divine Techniques and is as powerful as a god or demon.’

’That would be the pinnacle of Body Forging.’

In Zhong Ming’s estimation, the complete Daoist Canon would even surpass the Celestial Level in grade.

Unfortunately, the Daoist Canon - Celestial Derivation was incomplete, and a great deal of it was missing.

’It’s a bit of a shame, but if it weren’t so incomplete, I probably wouldn’t have even had the chance to come across this Cultivation Technique.’

Shaking his head, Zhong Ming stopped dreaming about the complete Daoist Canon and instead began to consider how to compensate for his own shortcomings so that his Candlelight Heart Eye could continue to advance.

’There are two methods. The first is to continue reciting the Daoist Canon to raise it to the Second Realm, then unlock a Divine Technique related to physical strength.’

’But that method relies entirely on luck and is too passive.’

’The second method is to find a Body Forging Cultivation Technique and practice it to solidify my physical foundation.’

After some thought, Zhong Ming... chose to do both.

’The Daoist Canon - Celestial Derivation is my highest-grade Cultivation Technique, and cultivating it doesn’t take much effort—I just have to recite it. This process also increases my Reading progress, so I can’t stop cultivating the Daoist Canon - Celestial Derivation, no matter what.’

’But I can’t slack off on Body Forging, either. One of the Four Trials of the Extreme Realm is the body, so I must start cultivating it as soon as possible... As for the technique, I can use one from Bright Stone Peak.’

With this in mind, Zhong Ming stood up, preparing to find the Sect Leader and ask for his approval to concurrently practice a Body Forging Cultivation Technique from Bright Stone Peak.

However, just as he stood up, before he could even move, the Sect Leader, Zong Chengze, appeared before him with a SWOOSH.

The usual calm and steady expression was gone from the Sect Leader’s face. He looked excited and nervous, with an unconcealable mix of anticipation and apprehension deep in his eyes.

HUUFF... After arriving, he took a deep breath before speaking to Zhong Ming. "Zhong Ming, Elder Wei told me you learned the Celestial Level Cultivation Technique from the Golden Jade Tower. Is this true?"

"Yes."

Zhong Ming nodded and immediately activated his Candlelight Heart Eye.

HUMMM!

As Zhong Ming’s Magical Power surged, the burning, vertical pupil instantly appeared above his head and stared directly at Sect Leader Zong Chengze.