Chapter Fifteen: First Signs

“Senior brother, this little fellow actually obtained the Dragon Canon.” Hidden Dragon spoke in astonishment.

“That’s right. The Dragon Mirror’s display can’t be wrong; this child has indeed acquired the Dragon Canon.” Supreme White Dragon nodded, a strange light flickering in his eyes. Beside him, Covering Fate was equally shocked—his own disciple truly was extraordinary. The Dragon Canon was renowned as the most miraculous cultivation method in ten thousand years; it was said even the ancestral Reverse Dragon Daoist had not mastered it. Yet no one doubted its wonders, for now, after ten millennia, Supreme White Dragon had cultivated it, and no one questioned his power.

Xiao Nuotian glanced speechlessly at the two techniques in his mind: one, the Dragon Path bestowed by Senior Laughing Heaven; the other, the Dragon Canon he had inexplicably obtained here. Could there be some connection between these two methods?

Senior Laughing Heaven had once said the Dragon Path was the supreme tome of the dragons, created through the union of humans and dragons. The Dragon Canon, however, was acquired by the ancestor on Dragon Island. Before Nuotian could ponder further, the two techniques within his mind began to approach one another. The Dragon Path scripture gleamed with golden light, while the Dragon Canon transformed into a golden dragon, circling the Dragon Path, then finally burrowing into it and vanishing.

From the fused Dragon Path came waves of dragon roars; golden light burst forth, and countless golden dragons surged throughout Nuotian’s spiritual world, seeming to dissolve into the edges of his consciousness.

Nuotian withdrew from his spiritual world, a wondrous cultivation method now imprinted in his memory—still the Dragon Path, but now integrated with the martial arts of the Dragon Canon.

Originally, the Dragon Path contained some inherited martial arts, but the fusion of these two methods made the techniques even more marvelous to Nuotian.

He’d heard that after acquiring the legacy technique one would be expelled from the Legacy Cave, but upon surveying his surroundings, Nuotian realized he hadn’t been sent out. He would not waste such a fine environment; thus, he continued cultivating the Dragon Path.

The Dragon Path consisted of nine levels. Nuotian had long since mastered the first, and was now at the peak of the second. Cultivation method and personal realm were unrelated.

However, within the same realm, the deeper the method, the greater its power.

To cultivate the second level of the Dragon Path, the primary requirement was to open the dantian within the body. Thanks to his extraordinary dantian, after several days’ cultivation, Nuotian swiftly reached the peak of the second level.

Seated cross-legged in the Legacy Cave, Nuotian cultivated, fully aware that those outside were both shocked and frustrated.

The three giants, who had gradually recovered from the shock of Nuotian obtaining the Dragon Canon, were now stunned that he remained inside after acquiring the method.

Every disciple who entered the Legacy Cave to obtain a technique was expelled automatically after a short time—the record, held by Supreme White Dragon, was but the length of a single incense stick. Beyond that, the Cave would send them out.

Yet now, the Cave seemed to be malfunctioning; the child remained inside, cultivating. Aside from that, the three could only guess at what Nuotian was doing, having themselves entered the Cave and knowing its circumstances well.

Could this child stay inside indefinitely if he didn’t wish to leave? The three were speechless.

Nuotian had once asked Covering Fate why martial realms were named as they were. Covering Fate replied that cultivation was about breaking through oneself and shattering the shackles of heaven and earth. Every person has three souls and seven spirits. The souls are three: the soul of heaven, the soul of earth, and the soul of fate. The spirits are seven: the first, heavenly surge; the second, spiritual wisdom; the third, qi; the fourth, strength; the fifth, central hub; the sixth, essence; the seventh, heroism.

All seven spirits dwell within the body; cultivation is the awakening of these dormant spirits, each awakening increasing one’s power.

Nuotian had already entered the realm of heroic spirit, yet had no understanding of what the heroic spirit was. Of course, not only Nuotian—no one on the continent understood it. It was said only those who advanced beyond the Supreme realm would come to know what their spirits and souls truly were.

Nuotian sensed that his dantian was already filled with the elemental energies he had gathered, but it seemed never to reach saturation. He sent his consciousness into his dantian, curious about its nature. Although his master often remarked on its uniqueness, praising his remarkable aptitude, Nuotian knew his master only understood its surface; he himself felt there were secrets yet undiscovered.

He could instantly use all the energy in his dantian, a feat many of high talent or cultivation could achieve. Yet his dantian could also refill itself almost instantly. This secret he had never told anyone.

Martial arts and cultivation methods are closely intertwined; powerful martial arts require equally powerful methods to support them. Without the backing of a method, martial arts cannot reach their full potential.

Each cultivator’s strength varies depending on their maximum energy output and the strength of their martial arts. For example, if one possesses a powerful martial art but cannot meet its minimum energy requirement, it cannot be fully unleashed. Forcing its use without sufficient energy may even injure the cultivator, possibly rendering their meridians useless.

Thus, if a cultivator forces a sudden use of their energy, self-harm is likely. Yet Nuotian faced no such issue; he could easily exert his full strength and recover quickly.

In battle, this gave him a tremendous advantage; against equally matched opponents, he could outlast them, and even against foes several times stronger, he still had a chance.

When Nuotian immersed his consciousness in his dantian, he found it saturated. Since entering the heroic spirit realm, his dantian had expanded four times, with each breakthrough bringing his energy reserves directly to the next peak.

As time passed, Nuotian noticed something unusual at the center of his dantian. All the energy he accumulated slowly vanished into the center, not dispersing outward. With deeper focus, Nuotian discovered an anomaly—a black dot, barely perceptible, into which the surrounding energy continuously flowed and disappeared.

Determined to uncover the mysteries of his body—lest unexpected troubles arise—Nuotian sent his consciousness into the black dot, only to find himself unable to control it; eventually, even a sliver of his awareness slipped inside and vanished.

Within the Legacy Cave, as Nuotian’s consciousness disappeared, his physical body gradually faded. Outside, the three giants watched intently, unable to see clearly what transpired within but able to sense faint changes.

Just as the trio focused on the situation, Nuotian’s figure suddenly appeared outside the grand formation at the cave entrance, still maintaining a meditative posture.

Seeing Nuotian emerge, Covering Fate quickly approached. Observing his condition, he frowned, waved his hand, and sent a beam of white light into Nuotian’s mind, but Nuotian remained unresponsive.

Supreme White Dragon and Hidden Dragon arrived as well, their expressions thoughtful but unconcerned.

Though the child was unresponsive, his breathing was steady and energy flowed naturally—a clear sign of cultivation. It was evident he was unharmed, likely entering a rare and peculiar state of cultivation. His talent, indeed, was extraordinary.

Cultivation relies not only on inherent talent, but also on perception. What is perception? No one truly knows. Though cultivation consists of accumulation and breakthrough, those with higher perception find it easier.

Among cultivators, it is said perception has three levels: Depth, Desire, and Emptiness, the latter two known as Enlightenment.

Almost all cultivators remain in the Depth level.

As for entering a higher level, it is a matter of chance; nearly every cultivator who experiences such heightened perception gains uncommon advancement and insight.

Yet pursuit of perception in cultivation is much like chasing flowers in a dream.

The three could only conclude that this child possessed not only unrivaled talent, but also peerless perception. The combined number of times the three had entered such deep insight could be counted on one hand.

Yet before them, the child had entered it so easily. Supreme White Dragon and Hidden Dragon vanished, seeing no reason to linger or waste time.

A single moment of enlightenment could last an instant or a very long time; the longer it lasted, the greater the gain.

Covering Fate, seeing his beloved disciple enter this rare state of enlightenment, found a place nearby to sit, opened his wine flask, and drank slowly.

Immersed in the black dot, Nuotian felt himself enter a deeply shadowed world; waves of cold made everything acutely clear, even though he was now but a manifestation of spiritual consciousness.

Before him stretched a dark space; beneath his feet, a shadowy expanse of water, boundless and extending beyond sight.

Despite the chill, Nuotian felt a strange sensation, as if he had originated from beneath this watery surface.

He was deeply curious about his own origins. His sister had told him that when he was found, he was in an egg—but he was undeniably human. After birth, he lacked ordinary meridians, yet lived normally and possessed divine power.

Nuotian’s curiosity about his origins surpassed anyone’s; it seemed the answers he sought lay within his own body.