Chapter 130: Purchasing Ancient Texts

On the plaza, disciples of the Vanstar Sect were searching the storage artifacts of the low-level cultivators one by one while verifying their true identities. If this were merely a standard procedure to identify the culprits, it would be understandable. However, these disciples were pocketing any items that caught their fancy from the storage artifacts of the low-level cultivators into their own rings.

While such instances were infrequent—as the belongings of those below the Yuan-Dan stage rarely caught the eyes of those at the Nascent Soul stage—some unlucky cultivators happened to possess items coveted by the Nascent Soul experts, leading to blatant robbery. Those low-level cultivators were filled with grief and indignation, and some who attempted to resist were summarily executed on the spot by the Vanstar Sect disciples.

Chen Mu sipped his tea, his brows furrowed slightly. Although he was no paragon of justice, this scene deviated significantly from his previous impression of the Vanstar Sect. Having heard of the sect from Gu Xingyuan, he had assumed that a sect she once called home would not harbor such overbearing and unscrupulous disciples. It now appeared that these Vanstar Sect disciples were nothing more than hypocrites—bullies who put on a good facade.

Chen Mu shook his head and ceased paying attention. He would not clash with the Vanstar Sect over these people; he was no match for them anyway. Since he had managed to remain hidden, he would continue to play the part of a spectator. Having narrowly escaped pursuit, he knew that exposing himself over such trivial matters would surely lead to his demise.

After the cultivators had been screened one by one, Hou Ying’s expression grew increasingly somber. He discovered that not a single person matched their target. This implied that the fugitives had used a transformation technique so advanced that even he, a Soul-Formation stage expert, could not discern the deception. He remained convinced that the two suspects were still within the city, as hiding in a crowd was the only viable way to evade capture.

Hou Ying pondered rapidly, his face dark. If the duo was not among those gathered, they must be hiding in a place even they could not search. Did the culprits have a stronghold in this city? His reasoning began to veer off-course; he was certain that the fugitives could not be above the Nascent Soul stage, and the fact that Chen Mu and Xue Tian had slipped through his grasp remained a blind spot in his logic.

Seeing that the Vanstar Sect disciples had finished their search yet remained in place without ordering the City Lord to open the gates, the crowd grew increasingly dissatisfied. They had already been searched—if the sect failed to find their targets, that was their own incompetence. Was the entire population of Zhutai City to be imprisoned indefinitely simply because of the sect's failure?

Several rogue cultivators at the Soul-Formation stage began to protest. While they feared the power behind the Vanstar Sect, they felt emboldened to at least voice their dissent. Did the Vanstar Sect truly believe they could act as absolute masters, restricting the freedom of everyone in the city just to suit their own agenda?

As the protests intensified, Hou Ying’s expression grew uglier. While the Vanstar Sect did not fear these rogue cultivators, prolonged restriction of their freedom would be detrimental to the sect's reputation. Ultimately, Hou Ying compromised, ordering the City Lord to open the gates and lift the blockade.

However, cultivators at the Yuan-Dan stage and below were required to undergo screening and registration before they could leave. Chen Mu and Xue Tian were in no rush to depart; they needed to understand the situation on the Bixiao Continent. After finishing their tea, they visited a bookstore to study the history, customs, common knowledge, and local lore of the land.

Inside the bookstore, everyone looked at the pair with curiosity. Chen Mu and Xue Tian were buying books in bulk, but they were not selecting manuals on spells or cultivation techniques; they were purchasing basic primers intended for children—general knowledge that everyone on the Bixiao Continent already knew. People looked at them as if they were idiots. As Chen Mu was short on funds, possessing only a few thousand low-grade spirit stones, Xue Tian covered the expenses.

Having purchased these basic texts, the two contentedly rented rooms at an inn and began their studies. They learned that unlike the Yuanyao Continent, where sects were managed under the jurisdiction of nations, the Bixiao Continent operated differently. Here, major sects held authority, with various nations serving as their vassals. These nations paid regular tribute to the sects to ensure their own stability and protection from external threats.

The prominent top-tier forces on the Bixiao Continent included the Vanstar Sect, which dominated the south. Beyond the Vanstar Sect, there were the Hanging Sword Sect in the East, the Mirage Nightmare Gate in the West, and the Longevity Valley in the North. These four sects divided the continent’s landscape among them.

However, there was another force that inspired even greater dread: the notorious Ten Directions Heavenly Demon Palace. A faction of demonic cultivators, they represented the dark side of the Bixiao Continent. Their location remained a mystery, yet their influence was felt everywhere. Legend held that they maintained ties with the Demon Realm. Upon reading this, Xue Tian decided to seek them out in the future; if he could connect with his own kind from the Demon Realm, he might be able to return to his original form.

Beyond these five major powers, there existed reclusive clans whose strength rivaled the sects, though records of them were as rare as phoenix feathers, often leaving even their names unknown.

This, however, was not Chen Mu’s immediate concern. He turned his attention to texts regarding cultivation realms. The Bixiao Continent followed the same nine major stages as the Yuanyao Continent, from the Yuan-Pulse stage to the Flying Immortal stage. Cultivators above the Soul-Formation stage were numerous here, and even those at the Great Completion stage could be found in major cities. Only those who reached the pinnacle—the Flying Immortal stage—remained in seclusion in remote areas, seeking to transcend the tribulation and enter the "Second Step."

Descriptions of the "Second Step" were scarce. Some called it the True Immortal stage, others the Heavenly Immortal stage. While "True Immortal" lacked historical backing, "Heavenly Immortal" had been recorded since ancient times. It was widely believed that demonic cultivators reached the "Heavenly Demon" stage, while the demon race attained the "Heavenly Demon" state, suggesting that "Heavenly Immortal" was indeed the human equivalent.

As Chen Mu pondered this, Rou’er, who had been silent for a long time, spoke through a telepathic transmission from within his spirit beast bracelet: "The text is correct. The first realm of the human 'Second Step' is indeed the Heavenly Immortal stage. Since you have touched upon this level, I will no longer hide it from you. My original cultivation was at the peak of the Heavenly Demon stage. I was nearly at the second realm of the demon race's 'Second Step' before your father, Chen Yuanzhou, sealed my power and sent me to you. Before your father, I was like a helpless chick, easily captured and locked inside that metallic cube."

Chen Mu felt a heavy weight in his heart. If the powerful Rou’er was not even a match for his father, just how strong was he? And how formidable were the enemies his father feared? It seemed that finding his father would require him to reach the "Second Step" himself. A deep sense of pressure descended upon him.

Rou’er had been observing the outside world through her divine sense, even during Chen Mu’s pursuit. She had not intervened because she knew he could handle it, and her appearance would only bring more trouble. As a Dragon-Fox, she was a rare treasure that any expert would covet. If she were discovered, not only would Chen Mu be unable to protect her, but they would both be killed or captured. She could only emerge once Chen Mu reached the completion of the Yuan-Dan stage, which would allow him to unlock the seals placed upon her.

When Chen Mu tried to ask more about the "Second Step," Rou’er brushed him off, saying, "Knowing more now would do you no good."

After processing this information, Chen Mu formulated a plan. He needed to join a sect to gain access to resources, as the path of a rogue cultivator was too limited. He also realized something: despite having opened all 108 Yuan-Pulses and practicing top-tier immortal techniques, he was only slightly stronger than an ordinary early-stage Yuan-Dan disciple of the Vanstar Sect.

Though being stronger than a Yuan-Dan cultivator while still at the Yuan-Base stage was impressive to others, he was certain that the disciple he faced had not opened all 108 pulses—likely only eighty or ninety. His own techniques were top-tier, and his body-refining was advanced; he should have been far more dominant. On the Yuanyao Continent, where foundations were weak, he hadn't noticed this discrepancy, but now it was clear. The issue lay with himself—perhaps he had not fully grasped the true mysteries of the *Great Sun Ancient Scripture*, or perhaps the scripture itself was not as miraculous as he had believed.