C3 The Small Target Was to Reach the Spiritual Manifestation Stage

"Isn't this the Tome of the Celestial Way, the most powerful sacred text created by the old ancestor of Polaris?" Ye Chen marveled as he examined the cultivation technique he had acquired.

During his exchanges with Zi Yuan, Ye Chen had come to understand the origins of the Polaris Holy Land, which was founded on the teachings of the Founder of Polaris. The founder, with the innate talent of the Holy Body, had crafted the Tome of the Celestial Way, a sacred level cultivation technique. This led to the establishment of the Polaris Holy Land and it became its premier sacred text.

Cultivation techniques are categorized into four grades: Heaven, Earth, Black, and Yellow, with Heaven being the highest and Yellow the lowest. However, the Tome of the Celestial Way is not part of this classification, as it is a Saint Grade Cultivation Technique that transcends even the Heaven Grade.

Within the entire Skyborn Kingdom, Holy Grade cultivation techniques are exceedingly rare, held by only a select few of the top powers. Among these forces, they are considered supreme treasures.

In the Polaris Holy Land, only the Pontifex is deemed worthy to cultivate the Tome of the Celestial Way; not even the elders have the privilege to delve into its secrets.

Ye Chen had never imagined that he would come into possession of such a revered sacred text.

The Tome of the Celestial Way is renowned as one of the most formidable cultivation techniques known. The Yin-Yang Holy Body had already assisted Ye Chen in transforming his physique and nurturing his soul. What he needed now was a cultivation method, and the Tome of the Celestial Way arrived at the perfect time.

Almost immediately, Ye Chen's mind was flooded with extensive memories of how to cultivate the Tome of the Celestial Way. With the enhancement of the Yin-Yang Holy Body and the system's imparted understanding of the sacred text, he quickly mastered the essentials of its cultivation.

Having finished his duties at the Imperial Ancestral Temple, Ye Chen returned to his stone house, eager to begin his cultivation of the Tome of the Celestial Way and to discover the full extent of its mystical powers.

As the Tome of the Celestial Way circulated within his body, Ye Chen could distinctly sense the divine force from his surroundings coursing through him. It surged through his limbs and skeleton, and within the dantian where he harnessed spiritual energy.

"What an incredible sensation. Is this what cultivation feels like?" Ye Chen whispered to himself.

The transformation of his Divine Body had granted Ye Chen the ability to harness Soulcatch, endowing him with a level of cultivation that surpassed that of ordinary disciples. Yet, without a proper method of cultivation, he could only sense a powerful presence within himself but was unable to fully grasp the magnitude of this inner strength.

However, when he began to practice the Tome of the Celestial Way as instructed, he felt capable of wielding the potent wakan within him. This newfound power gave him the sensation that he could lift an enormous boulder.

Moreover, as he engaged with the sacred text, Ye Chen's cultivation level leaped from the early period to the middle period of Soulcatch in the blink of an eye—a breakthrough that was as swift as it was astounding.

"As expected of a sacred text, it has allowed me to advance to a new realm as soon as I began!" Ye Chen exclaimed with delight.

With the Tome of the Celestial Way, Ye Chen was no longer a beginner in the art of cultivation.

Through the sacred text, Ye Chen had come to understand the various realms of cultivation in this world. They ranged from the lowest to the highest: Body Tempering, Soulcatch, Soul Nurturing, God-Man, Cave Heaven, Unification, and Spiritual Manifestation realms.

The Unification realm was the legendary domain of saints, where one could integrate with the Dao and ascend beyond the mortal plane. The Founder of Polaris had achieved this exalted state.

Each realm was subdivided into four minor stages: early period, middle period, late period, and perfection.

For those on the path of the mighty, advancing from one realm to the next required an immeasurable amount of time and effort to achieve any breakthrough.

The previous day's fusion with the Yin-Yang Holy Body, which allowed Ye Chen to employ Soulcatch and transform the decrepit into the wondrous, had already left him in awe.

Now, as he commenced the practice of the Tome of the Celestial Way, he had once again shattered a bottleneck, igniting a thrill of excitement within him.

Of course, such rapid progress was tied to the system. The system had already infused Ye Chen's mind with the profound insights and critical aspects of the Tome of the Celestial Way, enabling him to master it instantly, even though it was his first encounter with the sacred text.

Even with the Yin-Yang Holy Body, Ye Chen would need at least ten days to a fortnight to grasp the basics of the Tome of the Celestial Way, and achieving Great Completion would take no less than a year and a half. The saintly cultivation method was enigmatic and challenging to decipher, and those with lesser insight might not even reach the threshold. This illustrates the immense amount of time the system has saved for Ye Chen.

The Yin-Yang Holy Body granted Ye Chen a constant state of unity with the cosmos, a profound condition usually only attained by those in the God-Man realm. He had essentially gained early access to the unique divine powers of a God-Man.

Armed with the Tome of the Celestial Way, Ye Chen could address his cultivation challenges. With these assets, he was well-equipped to contend for a position among the elite.

Regarding additional cultivation resources, Ye Chen's only hope lay in the sign-in rewards. As a mere servant, his status and identity prevented him from requesting powerful cultivation methods, spells, or precious panaceas from Polaris.

He couldn't exactly proclaim to the people of Polaris that he shared the same Yin-Yang Holy Body as the Founder of Polaris and had acquired their supreme sacred text, the Tome of the Celestial Way. They would have to take him seriously then. But revealing such information could lead to being perceived as a monstrous anomaly.

Revealing his innate abilities could earn him significant recognition from Polaris, possibly elevating him to a core disciple or even a Dao Child. However, Ye Chen preferred not to disclose his talents and become a widely acknowledged prodigy.

In this survival-of-the-fittest world, where Fellbeasts lurk and ruthless individuals abound, murder and robbery are all too common. Fame often brings trouble, regardless of the era or place.

Should he inadvertently become a Dao Child of the Holy Land, he would become a prime target for rival factions and Fellbeasts, inviting a host of complications. Ye Chen had no desire to lead a life overshadowed by constant fear and anxiety.

In the past, Ye Chen would have wished for nothing more than to be highly valued, as it would have meant access to abundant resources. But now, with his sign-in system, he can comfortably grow and develop on his own, free from the usual concerns about resources for cultivation.

Having narrowly escaped death and found himself in a world where martial prowess is paramount, Ye Chen understands the importance of staying under the radar and avoiding unnecessary conflicts. This, he believes, is the key to a long life.

His current aspiration is to keep a low profile, to strengthen himself quietly, and ultimately, to achieve immortality.

Ye Chen has learned that those in the Body Tempering Realm have a lifespan similar to ordinary mortals, typically around a hundred years. The Soulcatch Realm, however, is far more impressive; practitioners can infuse their bodies with spiritual energy, boosting their vitality and extending their lives to 150 years.

Individuals in the Soul Nurturing Realm cultivate the presence of the spirit within themselves, granting them a lifespan of two hundred years. The God-Man Realm practitioners, on the other hand, can harness the energies of heaven and earth to refine their souls and bodies, living as terrestrial immortals with a lifespan of five hundred years.

Those who reach the Cave Heaven Realm can create a personal sanctuary within their bodies, living like deities for a millennium. The Spiritual Manifestation Realm allows its cultivators to manifest divine forms, such as having three heads and six arms, and these formidable beings can live for two thousand years.

The Unification Realm represents those who have merged with the laws of the universe, embodying true divinity with lifespans rivaling five thousand years. Yet, for several millennia, there have been no reports of any Unification Realm experts emerging on the Lunaria Continent. The mightiest among them are the Pontiffs of the various Holy Lands, who are at the pinnacle of the Cave Heaven Realm.

Ye Chen has set a modest goal for himself: to survive until he attains the Spiritual Manifestation Realm.

The Spiritual Manifestation realm was the pinnacle of power on the Lunaria continent. With this level of mastery, Ye Chen could travel the world with little to no danger for the foreseeable future.

Ideally, he wanted to reach the Unification realm and achieve invincibility before venturing out of the sect.

For now, he was merely an acolyte at the Holy Land, serving as a tomb watcher in the remote reaches of the Imperial Ancestral Temple, a place often overlooked by others.

The Imperial Ancestral Temple was essentially a graveyard, situated atop some of Mount Polaris's Spiritveins. Its secluded location and the eerie atmosphere, punctuated by the occasional roars of the Fellbeasts from the Tower of Binding, meant it was seldom visited and remained tranquil.

Ye Chen's routine involved rising early to refill the oil lamps and tidy up the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

However, today he skipped the usual sign-in at the temple.

He had a different destination in mind: the Pill Hall of the Polaris Holy Land.

With his natural talent and cultivation techniques, he knew the importance of pill support for his progress.

His intention was to sign in at the Pill Hall to see what kind of pills he could acquire to aid his training.

Since he spent his days at the Imperial Ancestral Temple, signing in there wasn't a concern.

Acolytes like Ye Chen were entitled to collect Body Tempering Pills from the Pill Hall each month.

These pills were essential for disciples in the Body Tempering realm, as physical cultivation alone was painstakingly slow. Achieving perfection in Body Tempering could take up to a year and a half, but pills could significantly hasten this process.

Each month, acolytes could claim ten Body Tempering Pills from the Pill Hall as compensation for their duties.

Though Ye Chen had advanced to the Soulcatch realm, he still presented himself as a Body Tempering Stage acolyte, which allowed him to continue collecting the pills monthly. This also provided a perfect excuse to visit the Pill Hall.

"I wonder what treasures I'll find in the Pill Hall," Ye Chen whispered to himself.

He navigated the mountain paths with ease, arriving at a palace that resembled a giant pill furnace.

The design of the palace was both unique and classical, rumored to be modeled after a traditional alchemy furnace.

All the pills from the entire Polaris Holy Land originated from the Pill Hall. After being crafted in the Alchemy Hall, they were stored within the Pill Hall.

Anyone wishing to obtain pills had to come here with their tokens to claim them.

However, as an acolyte, he would typically only collect Body Tempering Pills or assist the elder he served in acquiring other pills, lacking the privilege to exchange for anything more.

"Pill Hall."

With a glint in his eye, Ye Chen silently urged, "System, sign in here!"

Congratulations to the host for a successful sign-in. You have obtained a Vitality Restoration Pill.

Instantly, an ancient pill of the highest quality materialized within the system space.

Ye Chen could retrieve the pill at any moment, should he choose to.

But he immediately dismissed the idea. The Pill Hall was a hub of activity for numerous Polaris disciples, and producing a Vitality Restoration Pill out of thin air would undoubtedly draw unwanted attention.

After collecting his Body Tempering Pill with his token, Ye Chen prepared to head back to the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

"Ye Chen, you idiot, why the rush? Did you forget something? Hand over your Body Tempering Pill," taunted a voice.

"What's the hurry? Don't want to give up your Body Tempering Pill?" A sneering laugh echoed in Ye Chen's ears, laced with provocation and mockery.

Instinctively, Ye Chen turned to see three men wearing acolyte robes, their faces twisted into disdainful smirks, closing in on him along the mountain path.