...

Dragon God Sacred Land, Scripture Pavilion.

The finest white jade paved the ground, shimmering with a gentle luster. In the distance, wafting mists seemed to veil an indistinct palace. Carved sandalwood eaves featured Dragon Beasts spreading their wings as if ready to soar, and walls were built from carved turquoise tiles and jade stones.

Following the guidance of starlight, Hong Yuan slowly stepped into the first floor of the Scripture Pavilion.

He possessed numerous secret techniques and Divine Powers from ancient times, but this did not mean he could seclude himself completely, arrogant and self-sufficient.

The Martial World was filled with emerging talents, each leading their own era.

Each generation of heroes had its own resolve and ideas.

If he became complacent, he might become disconnected from the current era and fail to absorb the latest developments in various schools of thought.

However, his presence in the Scripture Pavilion caused quite a stir.

"That must be Sir Guangqiao, the Heavenly Messenger, right? I heard he’s not yet a hundred years old, but he’s already reached the Saint Realm," a cat woman, a powerful cultivator, whispered to her rabbit companion in a corner, her voice tentative.

"Not only that, according to my sister, he has already survived the first Heavenly Calamity and Earthly Tribulation. It won’t be long before he is near the realm of a seventh-order Master," said the rabbit companion, Ji Qingxue, her voice tinged with melancholy.

At first, she thought of giving Hong Yuan a chance to impress her so that if he gained her approval, she would be willing to engage in dual cultivation with him.

But later on, it turned into her pursuing Hong Yuan, who, however, snubbed her, seemingly interested instead in Li Jianqiu.

Whenever Ji Qingxue thought of Li Jianqiu, a hint of gloom flashed through her eyes. The gap between Li Jianqiu and me isn’t as large as it seems. Her quick attainment of sainthood couldn’t have happened without the help of the Flame Sparrow Great Saint, who also happens to be on good terms with Xuan Guangqiao. These... should have been mine...

Not only Ji Qingxue was gazing at Hong Yuan from afar; all the Disciples and Elder Saints present were distractedly watching him.

It wasn’t that there were no great demons who wanted to get close to Hong Yuan to forge connections.

But just a glimpse of Hong Yuan’s purple-gold dragon robe was enough to make them feel an overwhelming pressure weighing on their shoulders, rendering them unable to approach him.

The weaklings dispersed!

"Let’s start by examining the most fundamental Tao of the Five Elements," Hong Yuan said as he paced forward.

He arrived at the first floor of the Scripture Pavilion, where the basic Taoist techniques were stored, and began to study the various common Demon Skills and Divine Powers related to the Five Elements.

"Gold Arrow Skill," "Vine Skill," "Poison Mist Formula," "Fireball Spell," "Earth Escape Thought"

One after another, Demon Skills were observed by Hong Yuan, his crimson dragon eyes flickering with light, seemingly circulating with esoteric and intricate runes.

His qualifications and talents were of Great Emperor Level, making him the pinnacle of this realm.

These common Demon Skills and Divine Powers were merely glanced at by him, and he absorbed their essence into his blue Immortal Cave.

If he hadn’t been concerned about becoming out of step with the times, he wouldn’t have needed to venture out at all.

For within the Destiny Demon Realm, the development of techniques and skills had also reached a peak.

Nevertheless, it was not a matter of concern, for he actually managed to find some wisdom and inspiration among these truths.

[Gold Tao+100]

[Wood Tao+100]

[Water Tao+100]

[...]

In no time at all, barring the Water Tao, Hong Yuan’s proficiency in the other Elements would advance from the Master Realm to the Grandmaster Realm.

With such progress, the Immortal Cave Phenomenon within his blue Immortal Cave became deeper and more inscrutable.

He continued to grow stronger unceasingly!

"HISS. Is this the terror of a Heavenly Messenger? He assimilated the vast collection of the Scripture Pavilion’s first floor in just an hour," someone gasped.

"GULP. Even if a Great Saint personally investigated, it would take at least a decade or two to glance through it roughly. Sir Guangqiao is truly supreme, a being destined to challenge the Great Dream Emperor," they murmured in awe.

The assembled demons were shocked, hardly believing what they saw.

But upon recalling those monstrous existences of the ancient Great Emperors, they reluctantly accepted the reason for Hong Yuan’s transcendent gifts.

They had no choice but to accept that the tides of time move ever onward, utterly indifferent to their feelings.

Some great demons suspected Hong Yuan was playing tricks, but they quickly found the idea laughable.

For a supreme being such as a Heavenly Messenger was inherently unreasonable!

"Tao of the Five Elements, Three Little Marvels Skills, Yin Yang Skills..."

"Talisman Array Skill, Star Skill, Tool Soul Skill, Wisdom Sentiment Skill..."

Hong Yuan paid little attention to the outside world, his focus solely on the various Divine Powers and secret manuals of the Dragon God Sacred Land.

After confronting the shadow of Han Jiuming, he quickly realized that the Nine-tailed Crocodile Dragon, Great Moon Virtual Mirror, and the spirit of the Sky-connecting Tower must be discreetly watching over him. His safety was essentially guaranteed.

To say nothing of the fact that he, Hong Yuan, had covertly seized control over the protective Heaven Star Array of the Dragon God Sacred Land.

It could be said that, unless a Great Emperor emerged, this Dragon God Sacred Land could protect Hong Yuan until he reached Unconventional Tao Realms!

「One year later.」

Hong Yuan placed down the Jade Simple in his hands on the highest floor of the Scripture Pavilion, the eighty-first floor.

His eyes slowly opened, a fierce white light flashing within his crimson pupils, utterly terrifying.

He smiled faintly and thought to himself, The second Heavenly Calamity and Earthly Tribulation should begin now.

HUMM—

A beam of starlight shone from the dark firmament above, illuminating Hong Yuan’s purple-gold dragon robe.

The next moment, Hong Yuan’s figure slowly dissipated, returning to the Great Moon Holy Temple.

In the shadows, several Great Saints who had been observing Hong Yuan gasped sharply.

The Flame Sparrow Great Saint exclaimed in shock, "In just over a year, Guangqiao has absorbed the numerous true meanings from the boundless collection of the Scripture Pavilion!?"