The Candlelight Vortex Dragon coiled within the Dao Fruit suddenly opened its crimson left eye and stared directly at the trait cultivated by his Reading skill.

This sight made Zhong Ming raise an eyebrow.

’Why? Could it be because the book I was reciting during my epiphany and advancement was a Daoist Scripture?’

Though he didn’t understand why, Zhong Ming instinctively felt it posed no threat. In fact, he sensed it would be beneficial, so he didn’t try to stop it.

His lack of resistance allowed a wisp of Heart Fire to flow from the gaze and infuse the gestating trait in the next moment.

HUMMM!

The infusion acted like a catalyst, accelerating the awakening of Zhong Ming’s new trait. At the same time, the trait itself transformed, becoming related to "fire."

[Hint: Your Reading skill has successfully advanced. It is now at the Fifth Realm: Pinnacle of Perfection (Master Realm). You have acquired a new trait: Eternal Flame.]

[Reading, Fifth Realm: Pinnacle of Perfection (1/108,000). Traits: ① Calm Heart, ② Scholarly Aura, ③ Mind Reading, ④ Eternal Flame]

...

His advancement complete, Zhong Ming lay under a tree, sorting through his thoughts and musing to himself.

’I never thought the Reading skill could ascend to the level of civilization itself. That’s a little over the top...’

’Then again, it makes sense. One of the things that separates humans from animals is our ability to use the written word to pass down wisdom and experience through the generations. Human civilization flourished to what it is today with writing as its foundation.’

’It’s just that the words and books recording the wisdom of our predecessors are ultimately inanimate objects. If they just sit there and you don’t learn from them, they’re as useless as rocks.’

’Reading, however, is the bridge that allows you to make their wisdom your own...’

’But everyone is different. Some people are so clever they can grasp the profound meaning left by their predecessors after a single reading. Others are dull and gain nothing even after reading a hundred times.’

’A High Realm of Reading, then, has also turned me into one of those "clever people."’

Closing his eyes to sense the new trait born from his Reading skill, Zhong Ming shook his head.

’No, it’s not as simple as just being clever. The flame that the Candlelight Heart Eye infused into it has made it something extraordinary!’

After fully grasping its nature, Zhong Ming discovered that Eternal Flame had two uses. The first was to use books and texts to mentally resonate with their authors, allowing him to comprehend the original author’s Mental Realm.

This was the ability his Reading skill was supposed to gain upon reaching the Master Level—Immersion.

At this thought, Zhong Ming let out a soft chuckle.

’Come to think of it, back in my past life, reading comprehension exercises always forced us to guess what the author was thinking. What was their mood at the time? What emotions were they expressing? ...Heh, now I can actually do that for real.’

’I just wonder... now that I can use Immersion to grasp the author’s original Mental Realm, could I get a perfect score on those tests?’

This stray thought was merely an amusing tangent. Zhong Ming quickly shook his head and returned to more serious matters.

’Normally, the Master Realm would only let me use books as a medium to comprehend the author’s original Mental Realm... which is already incredibly powerful, of course.’

’If I were to now read the insights left behind by the predecessors of Longxi Peak, I would be able to feel their thoughts, their emotions, and even the reasons why they drew their swords.’

’Of course, everyone is different, and I can’t just copy the experiences of others wholesale. But this would still allow me to absorb the insights of my predecessors at an incredible speed.’

That was the original ability. The variation added by the Candlelight Heart Eye, however, allowed Zhong Ming to use books and texts as a bridge to span eons, glimpse a phantom of the original author left behind in the river of history, and engage in an even deeper fusion of their Mental Realms.

’Even though I can only observe their projection and sense their Mental Realm without being able to truly communicate, it’s still terrifying... It’s already touching upon the secrets of time!’

Zhong Ming had never imagined that after being infused by the Candlelight Heart Eye, Eternal Flame would actually gain a time-related ability.

But he quickly shook his head. ’Unfortunately, I can’t use this ability yet.’

Everything consumes energy. A special textual medium, combined with the Eternal Flame trait, could indeed allow Zhong Ming to cross millennia and experience the original author’s Mental Realm firsthand.

But the process of crossing time would require burning the power of Zhong Ming’s Heart Soul.

’Forget Qi Cultivation—even at Foundation Establishment or Golden Core, the power of my Heart Soul might not be enough to support a single complete "Time Reversal."’

At this, Zhong Ming paused. ’Actually, it might be possible at the Golden Core realm. After all, I’m not truly Crossing Time, but achieving a spiritual resonance through the conceptual depth of the text...’

’It’s like how after a loved one passes away, you might touch one of their belongings and, in a daze, feel like you’ve glimpsed their figure for a moment.’

Zhong Ming’s Eternal Flame was similar to this, which was why the cost to see his predecessors wasn’t quite so terrifying.

’But before I reach the Golden Core realm, it’s best I use this ability as little as possible, if at all.’

Shaking his head, Zhong Ming began to examine the second ability of Eternal Flame.

As an ability focused on the inheritance of civilization, it wasn’t limited to just allowing Zhong Ming to receive the experiences of his predecessors.

’By burning the power of my Heart Soul, I can directly transmit my insights into the Dao Rhyme into another person’s sea of consciousness.’

It was an ability that benefited others, and Zhong Ming had no objection to that.

With that thought, Zhong Ming looked out into the courtyard and called in a clear voice, "Yun Ya."

"Senior Brother, you were looking for me?"

Ever since learning of Zhong Ming’s Talent, Yi Yunya had been diligently attending to him. Hearing his call, she moved gracefully and hurried over. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

At the same time, Yan Chen, Su Lingya, and Xue Yao also turned to look.

—After all, this was a residence arranged by others, not their own sect’s home. And since the Seven Profound Sect wasn’t a Major Sect, the residence Prince Qinghe’s Mansion had prepared for them wasn’t very large.