Lusciously green, the jade-like trees reached for the skies.

Two young Daoists, identical in appearance but dressed in black and white Daoist Robes, sat cross-legged in the courtyard, their hands forming slightly different spells.

Mists twisted around them, faintly echoing with the roar of the ebb and flow of the tides.

From sunrise to sunset.

As a sliver of twilight illuminated the courtyard, the two simultaneously opened their eyes.

The tumultuous sound around them, reminiscent of surging waves, also dissipated.

"It turns out that even the Dao-Entering Realm has its limits," Qi Xiu murmured, his eyes serene and his tone tinged with a hint of solemnity as he fiddled with the Flood Dragon Pool Ring on his thumb.

"But the barriers of the Dao-Entering Realm are obviously much heavier than those of the Common Realm. This is not something that can be resolved by simply cultivating other Dharma Gates. I have a premonition that if we can break through these barriers, it's likely to be a qualitative leap."

The Daoist in the black robe named Tai Yin stood up with a light flick of his sleeve.

"It's just that breaking through these barriers is too difficult."

Qi Xiu's eyes shifted slightly, and a proficiency panel suddenly appeared before him.

[Calligraphy (Level 5): 7%]

[Human Path Merit (Level 1): 33%]

[Hunyuan Dragon Tiger Scripture (Level 3): 89%]

[Minor Five Elements Water Circulation Five Elements Escape Skill (Layer 6): Awaiting Extreme Breakthrough!]

[Formless Sword Mantra (Level 4): 32%]

[Palm Thunder (Layer 3): 19%]

[Bing Fire Divine Thunder (Level 3): 13%]

[Observing Qi Skill (Layer 3): 65%]

[Alchemy (Level 4): 21%]

[Painting (Level 4): 9%]

[Culinary Arts: 98.9%]

...

A year ago, he successfully subdued the Dual Heart Mirror and, as he wished, activated his second identity, which he named Tai Yin.

This second identity shared his intentions. Though it possessed an independent thought pattern, it was essentially still him.

Therefore, when Tai Yin cultivated, Qi Xiu's proficiency also increased accordingly.

As a result, the speed of proficiency growth inadvertently doubled.

However, a month after cultivating together with Tai Yin, this handsome Daoist clad in black suddenly proposed an idea.

"Do you remember when we were cultivating in the Common Realm? Whether it was our True Cultivation Power or Mental States, they could only be elevated to Layer 3 at most. But after ascending to the Initiate Realm, this limitation seemed to disappear."

Qi Xiu only pondered for a moment to Tai Yin's question before responding, "The Dharma Gates of the Initiate Realm are different from the True Cultivation Powers and heart sutras of the Common Realm. Their essence constitutes a complete Divine Marvel. However, the True Cultivation Powers and heart sutras are merely subordinate extensions of the Divine Marvel. Therefore, after the True Cultivation Powers and heart sutras are cultivated to Layer 3, the only way to further enhance their power is through continuous integration and transformation. What's the issue with that?"

"But I don't see it that way. I suspect that even the Dharma Gates of the Initiate Realm have their upward limits. Although they are complete Divine Marvels in themselves, they are more like a single leaf on a large tree. Above it, there are still branches, limbs, and the main trunk. If the Dharma Gates of the Initiate Realm could be promoted without limit, a leaf of infinite size could not grow on the branches, and the branches couldn't bear it either."

"You mean..." Tai Yin's words also stirred Qi Xiu's thoughts.

"Shall we try to find out where the limit of the Dao-Entering Realm's Dharma Gates is?" the Daoist of the Taiyin said with an excited expression.

Compared to the original's calm and conservative personality, his character was more aggressive and radical.

He was the type to put into action whatever came to mind.

Practice always precedes planning.

"This..."

Qi Xiu did not immediately agree to Tai Yin's proposal, but after giving it considerable thought, he felt that it might be worth a try.

If things really were as Tai Yin suggested, then some preparations could be made in advance.

Having obtained his original self's agreement, the Daoist of the Taiyin directly suggested starting with the "Minor Five Elements Water Patrol Evasion Skill".

Although "The Secret of the Primordial Dragon-Tiger Scripture" governs all Ten Thousand Laws and synchronously improves the skill proficiency of all Dharma Gates, it is Qi Xiu's main True Scripture Volume. As such, its proficiency advances very slowly.

Unlike other Dharma Gates which were created by predecessors with traces to follow, "The Secret of the Primordial Dragon-Tiger Scripture" came into being from nothingness.

When other Dharma Gates improve, what is gained is insight and experience.

Yet, every time Qi Xiu cultivated the main True Scripture, new content was truly formed, which is akin to the True Scripture being reforged each time.

Naturally, the speed was as slow as it could get.

Thus, nearly six years have passed, and "The Secret of the Primordial Dragon-Tiger Scripture" remains at Level 3.

The "Minor Five Elements Water Patrol Evasion Skill" is considered one of the more accessible Dharma Gates among the many he has mastered.

Others, such as the "Formless Sword Mantra" and the Thunder Magic Dharma Gates, are much harder and take much too long to improve.

Having made up his mind, Qi Xiu and Tai Yin immediately began to cultivate the "Minor Five Elements Water Patrol Evasion Skill" together with all their might, eager to see if the Dharma Gates of the Dao-Entering Realm had an upper limit like those in the Common Realm!

Today, the results of their experiment came in.

The limit of the Dharma Gates of the Dao-Entering Realm is the Sixth Realm.

After advancing to the Sixth Realm, the Dharma Gate proficiency disappears, replaced by something similar but not identical to what happens in the Common Realm: [Awaiting Extreme Breakthrough!]

Once the True Cultivation Powers and heart sutras of the Common Realm reach their peak, they can be melded with new ones to forge new Cultivation Techniques. However, for Initiate Realm Dharma Gates that have reached their limit, the conditions needed are much more difficult:

"True Blood, that's the essence of a Blood-Stained Great Cultivator. One drop is worth a hundred years of arduous cultivation. It must be True Blood that is in accordance with the Daoist Inheritance of the Dharma Gate. This is practically coercing you and me to go hunt and kill Blood-Stained Great Cultivators."

The tone was disgruntled, but in the depths of Daoist of the Taiyin's eyes lurked boundless eagerness and restlessness.

Both he and his original self now could claim invincibility within the same realm!

Since they were invincible within the same realm, their only pursuit could be to defeat those of a higher realm!

"Where can we find a Blood-Stained Great Cultivator who follows the path of water?"

Stroking his brow, Daoist of the Taiyin, who had been complaining just moments ago, had already begun to plot a hunting plan in his mind.

"Stop groping in the dark. Did I say I wanted to hunt and kill a Blood-Stained Great Cultivator?"

Glancing at Tai Yin, Qi Xiu took it upon himself to walk towards the inner chamber.

"I'm curious about the Dharma Gate's Extreme Breakthrough, but I do not agree with taking the risk to hunt down Blood-Stained Great Cultivators. That's simply a meaningless risk with our lives. Since Dao-Entering Dharma Gates cannot break through the Sixth Realm, let's wait until I ascend to the Blood-Stained Realm and then re-cultivate Blood-Stained Realm Dharma Gates. Put away those little schemes of yours."

The hunting plan for the Blood-Stained Great Cultivator was outright rejected by Qi Xiu, causing Daoist of the Taiyin's expression to become dull and disinterested.

"You stick to the rules, ever cautious and prudent. I've seen thousands of characters in the world, and you embody stability."

"What's wrong with being stable? Cultivation is not a game where you can save and restart if you die. I would rather be slow and steady than find myself in dire straits, where my body perishes, and my Dao vanishes."

Completely unresponsive to provocation, Qi Xiu, who had returned to the inner chamber, casually picked up a writing brush from the rack, lightly dipped it in ink, and began to write effortlessly:

"Don't set your sights on me. I have no intention of joining you to hunt down a Blood-Stained Great Cultivator. Don't even think about sneaking off while I'm cultivating. And forget about stealing the Thousand Faces Mask to disguise your identity. I've locked that item in the lowest box on the inner chamber's bookshelf, with the key in the third drawer on the left. Did you hear me?"

Staring in stunned silence at his original self, who seemed so confidently assured, it took Daoist of the Taiyin a long time to regain his senses. With his right hand concealed within his broad robes, he gave Qi Xiu a thumbs up.

Truly worthy to be the original self. When it comes to shamelessness, it's still you.

「The next morning,」

Qingyi, carrying a hot towel, came to Qi Xiu's side. "Master Qi."

"Daoist of the Taiyin left the mountain last night while you were cultivating."

Taking the steaming towel, Qi Xiu gently wiped his face. Even though, with miraculous elixirs like the Dust-Avoiding Elixir, no filth would accumulate on the body of a cultivator, after so many years, Qi Xiu was still accustomed to wiping his face with a hot towel after getting up.

"Forget it. I've warned him several times to no avail. Let him be. Hopefully, he doesn't cause any trouble."

After tasting a few bites of the breakfast prepared by Qingyi, Qi Xiu stood up and headed for Guanlan Cliff.

Half a month ago, his master, Daoist Yunxiong, had sent him a message. He wanted him to come today, as there seemed to be something to discuss.

Riding blazing Lei Mang to Guanlan Cliff, from hundreds of meters away, Qi Xiu could already see the surging clouds on the mountain cliff. Apart from his master, Daoist Yunxiong, there were two young people, a man and a woman, seated there.

"Master."

Standing before Daoist Yunxiong, Qi Xiu bowed slightly and raised his hand in greeting.

"Xiuer has arrived. Let me introduce you. These two are the lady of the Gao Family, Gao Qingyue, and the young master of the Cheng Family, Cheng Yang. The two of you, this is my disciple, Qi Xiu."

Turning to face the young man and woman, Qi Xiu looked at them. Gao Qingyue? A member of the Gao Family?

Gao Qingyue appeared plain and unpretentious and did not seem to come from Dianchuan's foremost prominent family.

On the other hand, the Cheng Family's young master was indeed handsome and elegant. With just a glance, Qi Xiu noticed that he was wearing no fewer than five Magic Artifacts.

"So you are Qi, a pleasure to meet you. I am Cheng Yang. Although we've never met, you might have heard of my elder brother. His name is Cheng Hua."

Rising to his feet, Cheng Yang smiled and bowed to Qi Xiu, uttering a name.

Cheng Hua?

After a moment's thought, Qi Xiu recalled. He had indeed encountered someone named Cheng Hua during the Shenxiao Sect's examination six years ago. At the time, this man attempted to ambush the solitary Daliang wolf riders and was stopped by him. He should have left already, but thinking himself clever, tried to expose his identity, and was promptly silenced by him.

Does he know that Cheng Hua was killed by me? Is he here for revenge?

Glancing back at his master, Qi Xiu had a strange expression on his face.

Coming to Shenxiao Sect to seek revenge? Young man, you must be courting death.

"Qi, please don't misunderstand. My brother was arrogant and complacent, and we never got along. I'm not here for his sake today."

Seeing Qi Xiu's stern gaze, Cheng Yang hastened to explain: "Actually, Princess Qingyue and I are here today to ask for a favor from Qi."

"How so?"

"When my brother participated in the examination, he took a Magic Artifact from our home—that Magic Artifact was borrowed from the Gao Family. Since his disappearance, the whereabouts of that Magic Artifact have been unknown. If it is borrowed, it must be returned. Qi had some contact with my brother. I wonder if you've seen that Magic Artifact? Rest assured, if Qi surely has information on the Magic Artifact, we will not let your effort go unrewarded. Name your conditions—as long as we can meet them, we will not bargain!"

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