Blind Spot
Chapter 629 - 577 Seeking First One

Chapter 629: 577 Seeking First One

The darkness was deep, flowing with an unknown viscous substance somewhere in the Black Sea.

A gigantic black whirlpool was slowly rotating, its size so vast that in front of it, even the Earth-Moon Blind Spot seemed like insignificant dust.

At the center of the whirlpool was an irregularly-shaped black and yellow rock island.

The island stood motionless at the center of the whirlpool, its surface even bearing a collection of pavilions and terraces.

Under the sharp, curved eaves were long black streamers swaying gently in the wind.

The buildings were mostly topped with pointed and domed roofs, primarily in dark gold and black tones.

On the sides of many structures stood colossal golden rings shimmering with iridescent light.

At this moment, within one of those golden rings, countless rainbow halos were rapidly forming.

Hiss!

In an instant, a beam of white light shot out, gently landing and revealing three figures.

It was indeed Daoist Yin Jiu leading Li Chengyi and Que Ru.

"This place is the true sect," Daoist Yin Jiu exhaled. "According to the rules, only after receiving the teachings here, may you return to your original locations."

Li Chengyi nodded, closely examining the small island before him.

Beyond the island was a hemispherical black canopy, with uncountable black viscous substances outside swirling rapidly, inducing dizziness with even a slight gaze.

He hurriedly withdrew his gaze and looked towards another building.

These buildings mostly resembled Taoist palaces and halls, evidently Tian Ju Pavilion still adhered to the Taoist architectural style.

The undulating Taoist structures were mostly desolate, with few people around.

"Why can’t we see anyone besides ourselves? Isn’t there supposed to be a Town Guard or something?" Que Ru asked the question Li Chengyi wanted to ask.

"This is a place for receiving teachings. After you have chosen the taboo knowledge system, you may leave on your own to cultivate. You don’t think you are meant to cultivate here forever, do you? If cultivation could be endlessly advanced in one place, we wouldn’t need to travel far and wide in search of resources and The Great Path," Daoist Yin Jiu said with a laugh and a shake of his head.

"There are indeed Town Guards here, but you can’t see them, that’s all."

Li Chengyi actually had some understanding of the true sect’s internal situation, as his teacher Yin Yue had hinted at some details before coming here.

"May I ask Senior Uncle, is it true what Teacher Yin Yue said, that there’s no concept of time here?" He thought for a moment and inquired.

"Naturally, when you return, you can still get back to the second day after your departure. The creators of the true sect have segmented every transformation into countless nodes, extracting you from time-space and also sending you back to the moment of change close to when you leave," Daoist Yin Jiu’s explanation was something the two found somewhat unfathomable.

But they still tried to remember his words, perhaps they could be enlightened in the future.

The two followed Daoist Yin Jiu to the largest Taoist Palace here.

The entire appearance of the Taoist Palace resembled a wild beast with its mouth open wide and ready to devour its prey.

The beast resembled a lion, but not quite, with its body covered in gray-white manes; among the manes, the intricate paths were the palace’s supporting columns and ropes.

Daoist Yin Jiu entered the gate of the palace first, with the two following closely behind.

Just as they entered, they saw a tall Taoist with a serpent’s head and a human body, his eyes shining with blue luminescence, sitting quietly on a cushion, his back marked with a massive character from the Black Sea Script: One.

"You must pay respects to him, this is the senior Daoist Ping Qiu who imparts the teachings," Daoist Yin Jiu said with solemnity as he turned back.

Li Chengyi and Que Ru hurriedly followed his example and saluted the Taoist.

The other seemed completely oblivious to them, still sitting on his cushion, motionless as if he were a statue.

"This place is the origin of time, you have three hundred breaths to contemplate the essence of the primal transformations around you. Afterward, you must return here to receive the teachings," declared Daoist Yin Jiu in a deep voice.

Li Chengyi and Que Ru both saluted him again.

"Thank you, Senior Uncle."

"Remember, once the teaching is complete, if you fail to advance your realm within three hundred years, you will be demoted to the Guard Division and sent out to establish a branch of Tian Ju Pavilion, taking in disciples," Daoist Yin Jiu cautioned.

Both felt a chill in their hearts and nodded solemnly.

After saluting once more, they turned to leave the Taoist Palace.

Only when his feet touched the ground of this island did Li Chengyi genuinely feel that this place truly existed.

He looked up at the rapidly rotating black canopy surrounding them.

Glancing at Que Ru,

"What do you plan to do, Senior Sister?"

"I plan to take a look around first, then make contact with other fellow disciples to exchange what we have learned," Que Ru replied.

"However, as the teacher said, the disciples who receive teachings here are not only from our own time-space but also from different nodes across time-spaces. Rash exchanges could result in significant consequences, ensnaring oneself. Hence, the arrival of disciples here to receive teachings is arranged," Li Chengyi said. "The fear is that disciples might interact prematurely and affect the variables of different time-spaces."

"It’s not that serious; the solidified areas of the Black Sea are different across time-spaces," Que Ru replied with a smile. "Our elder sect members, with their mighty divine powers, can reverse the change of all things. Those who can step out of such changes naturally remain unaffected; those who cannot are mere ants, unable to hear our words or come here."

Li Chengyi was somewhat puzzled. Clearly, Que Ru understood much more than he did.

Seeing Li Chengyi’s lack of understanding, Que Ru added nothing more, gave a salute, and turned toward another Taoist Palace.

Li Chengyi watched her leave, taking a deep breath.

With limited time, he too didn’t delay and quickly walked toward the edge of the island.

Soon, he reached the rocky edge of the black island.

Outside was the rapidly flowing black viscous substance.

The numerous viscous substances resembled black worms with a granular feel, and upon closer inspection, an innumerable buzzing sound could be heard.

"Is this the primal material?" Li Chengyi slowly extended his hand, touching the black viscous substance with his fingertip.

Whoosh!

His fingertips vanished in an instant, as if severed by an extremely sharp blade, leaving no trace behind.

"Indeed... this is the Stasis Scene."

Yin Yue had mentioned before that the Stasis Scene contained everything and also dissolved everything, existing as the primal substance before all beginnings.

Without reaching the Saint Position, to rashly come into contact with it would be extremely dangerous.

Having tested it himself, Li Chengyi believed it.

’This place seems extremely dull; no wonder there are not many who stay here.’

He glanced around, the islands were deserted, and apart from Que Ru who had just left, he could not see anybody else.

With a sigh in his heart, he began to visit each Taoist Palace.

Most of the Taoist Palaces here were empty and desolate, but in a few, there was one person sitting quietly in meditation, unresponsive to any greeting.

It was like a Realm of Death.

Li Chengyi visited each Taoist Palace, and at the far end of the small island, he found a well with a circular opening.

Standing beside the well was a Taoist youth with red skin and ox horns.

He stared dumbfounded at the mouth of the well, muttering something unintelligible under his breath.

As time was almost up, he returned to the largest of the Taoist Palaces, entered the door, and sat down cross-legged behind Yin Jiu.

"Is it not very boring?" Yin Jiu asked with a smile.

"Indeed, it’s empty, and no one pays attention to me. This place is completely different from what I had imagined," Li Chengyi frowned.

"That’s exactly how it should be. Having spent a long time here, any creature would be affected by the outer Stasis Scene, which slows down their own rate of change," he said with a smile.

"Simply put, the longer you stay, the slower your own time becomes, and if you don’t step past the key threshold of the Saint Position, you will become a statue in stasis forever, remaining here," he sighed.

"See these empty Taoist Palaces? They were once inhabited. However, those Sect predecessors failed to take the crucial step and ultimately merged with this place, turning into the Black Stones underground. Initially, this island did not exist; it was formed from the remains of our Sect elders and has been expanding gradually."

Li Chengyi felt a chill in his heart, and the image of Tian Ju Pavilion in his mind grew increasingly mysterious.

After sitting cross-legged for a short while, Que Ru also returned.

The two of them, like Yin Jiu, sat down cross-legged facing the serpentine Taoist and waited quietly.

Thud...

Suddenly, the sound of a bell rang out.

A stream of colorful aurora light shot in from outside the Taoist Palace and landed precisely in front of the three people.

The aurora light transformed into a bald, double-chinned old Taoist wearing a white robe; aside from his two arms, he had two more arms that flailed wildly behind him.

The old Taoist nodded slightly to Yin Jiu and sat down cross-legged on the ground, quietly waiting for the teaching to begin.

Soon, the serpentine Daoist Ping Qiu slowly began to thaw like an ice sculpture, his face wavering.

His eyes glowed blue as they moved and swept over the four people present.

"The teaching begins. Calm your mind and focus," a strange, thin voice with a hissing sound echoed amongst them.

The four quickly adjusted their state.

Li Chengyi’s gaze was fixed on Daoist Ping Qiu.

Thud.

Suddenly, another bell chime seemed to echo.

The blue light in the other’s eyes burst forth like two beams, shooting directly into his eyes.

In that instant, countless pieces of information flooded his mind, similar to the sensation experienced while using the Flower Language Technique.

But the intensity was slightly lighter than before.

Numerous methods on how to enhance, refine, and strengthen the Yin Canon Creation Furnace entered Li Chengyi’s consciousness.

Not only that, but at the same time, an ancient furnace image engraved with countless patterns and Black Sea Script symbols emerged from the information transmitted by Daoist Ping Qiu.

The Primordial Spirit Sword Palace in Li Chengyi’s mind shook thunderously, with the sword-shaped Sword Furnace inside undergoing rapid transformation due to this influence.

It became more refined, and patterns of Black Sea Script continuously appeared on its surface while the fire within became brighter and clearer.

The furnace image was like a great supplement nourishing the Sword Furnace, quickly shortening and stabilizing Li Chengyi’s current stage of True Fire and Ethereal Fire.

At the same time, his condensed Sword Furnace produced a transparent image that reflected back into Daoist Ping Qiu’s eyes.

After an indeterminable length of time, Li Chengyi slowly came out of his meditative state.

He was still sitting inside the Taoist Palace, but his Primordial Spirit Sword Palace was now more sturdy and pure than ever before.

The previously semi-transparent Sword Furnace fire had now become a tangible golden flame.

In just that short moment, he had directly crossed over the level of Ethereal Fire, entering the second stage of True Fire, Fire Essence!

In this stage, the True Fire within the Sword Furnace would start to comprehensively strengthen the body, flesh, bones, and so on.

The pinnacle of the Fire Essence Realm was to purify the physical body to the ultimate limit of all creatures.

Not the limit of a particular species, but the ultimate limit of all living beings.

Having received a wealth of cultivation methods from the Yin Canon, Li Chengyi instantly recognized the realm he was now in.