CHAPTER 15: HEAVENLY DAO CLASS

With a sagely air, Xu Renshan looked down at the gathered disciples, clearing his throat. "What do you think is the most precious spirit item in existence?"

One of the female disciples answered, "The Nine Heavens Thunderfruit?"

Xu Renshan shook his head gently. "The Nine Heavens Thunderfruit, said to grow exclusively in the Nine Heavens Thunder Region. As a treasure above the high-grade, it is exceedingly rare, yes. But the most precious? It still falls short."

The disciples began to name one legendary treasure after another, each more extravagant than the last.

"The Tear of Stars?"

"The Primordial Xuanhuang Essence?"

"The Supreme Bone?"

Xu Renshan’s gaze finally fell on Qi Yuan, who was deep in thought. "Qi Yuan, what do you think?"

Qi Yuan replied, "If it’s called the Heavenly Dao class, then shouldn’t it be something tied to the Heavenly Dao itself?"

A spark of approval lit Xu Renshan’s eyes. "Well said. For the Heavenly Dao class, the required spirit item is none other than..."

Suddenly, Qi Yuan felt his mind snap open as if lightning had split the clouds. Inspiration flooded in, drenching him with clarity.

He felt his brain finally work. Enlightenment!

His face flushed, his expression half-wild with excitement as he exclaimed, "I understand! The Heavenly Dao class... so that’s what it means!"

Bowing deeply to Xu Renshan, Qi Yuan excused himself in haste.

Since such a flash of insight could vanish in a heartbeat, he had to write it down post-haste!

Xu Renshan watched him go, smiling faintly. Then, he turned back to the others. "There’s a wondrous substance known as the Heavenly Veins’ Breath. It’s a wisp of qi that overflows when the Heavenly Dao itself descends. By possessing it, one can forge the Heavenly Dao class."

He’d culled this knowledge from old tomes.

"The Heavenly Veins’ Breath is the most precious spirit item in all existence."

***

On the Seven-Colored Peak, Qi Yuan sat cross-legged as his mind raced.

"Heavenly Dao class means using the Heavenly Dao itself for one’s Foundation Establishment spirit item!"

He felt enlightened, sharper than ever before. If his ambitions weren’t so outrageous, perhaps this world’s Heavenly Dao would’ve already blessed him, bestowing not just the Three Flowers upon his crown, but five! [1]

The Heavenly Dao probably really loved him.

Lifting his head to the skies, he muttered with a puzzled look, "But how am I supposed to refine the Heavenly Dao into my Foundation Establishment spirit item? I wonder what it tastes like. Can it be eaten?"

The heavens, of course, didn’t respond.

"Speaking of the Heavenly Dao... back in the Xuanyuan Forbidden Zone, didn’t I get a fragment of it? Couldn’t that serve as my spirit item?"

Qi Yuan’s spirit jolted. He had probably stumbled onto something extraordinary!

That gaming jade... it isn’t just a game!

Still, he was too lazy to think too deeply about it.

I haven’t played in a while. Let’s log in!

With that thought, he dove back into the game. As always, he spawned half-buried in the earth. Opening the chat interface, he saw a message from Jin Li. The corners of his mouth curved upward.

Qi Yuan: See? I wasn’t lying. The Xuanyuan Forbidden Zone is mine. You are free to take anything inside.

He was generous. After all, he’d looted the best treasures within Xuanyuan Forbidden Zone. Those so-called spirit herbs were nothing more than snacks to him. He wouldn’t even bother with the ones that tasted awful. Besides, those herbs were less useful than outright killing a monster.

Qi Yuan: The herbs aren’t worth much. What’s really valuable are the beasts. Kill one, and you’ll get loads of experience. The leveling is fast.

But as soon as he sent it, he regretted it. Jin Li was probably still low-level.

Can she handle those monsters?

Qi Yuan: When you’ve got time, come to the Garment Tomb Forbidden Zone. I’ll help you grind. Gotta say, the monsters here are endless.

Closing the chat, Qi Yuan crawled out of the dirt pit. Despite being level 82, he still had to stay cautious in the Garment Tomb Forbidden Zone. After all, unlike in the Xuanyuan Forbidden Zone, the monsters here hunted in packs.

He muttered to himself, "Looks like I’ll have to grind hard again..."

Cultivation transferred over however faintly to his real body in this bizarre game. Yes, his endless leveling wasn’t just for fun. There was another crucial reason: he’d receive rewards after each stage!

Right now, what he coveted the most was a Heavenly Dao Fragment, which would be his Foundation Establishment spirit item.

Driven by that thought, he pressed on. "The garment monsters usually come in groups. I need to find one that strays off."

He considered his options. If they surrounded him, even he would be in trouble. Back in the Xuanyuan Forbidden Zone, he’d once been careless and injured. For several days afterward, his in-game avatar was weakened, and his real body suffered as well. Hence, he couldn’t afford to be reckless.

"Stealth!"

His figure melted away into the shadows. As his strength grew immensely, he had picked up a couple of skills—or, in cultivator terms, spells.

So far, he’d acquired two major skills and eight minor ones. A major skill would be granted every thirty levels, and a minor one every ten levels. The two major ones he possessed were Heaven-Cleaving Sword and Tyrannical Might. Stealth was a minor skill, letting him move unseen and fast.

Slipping through the dense jungle of the Garment Tomb Forbidden Zone, Qi Yuan passed countless bizarre creatures. At one point, he entered a strange grove that made him question if this was even a forbidden zone at all.

The trees were draped with colorful undergarments. Bras and bellybands fluttered in the breeze. Such a ridiculous sight it was. He even spotted several pairs of underwear dangling from the branches.

If some pervert wandered in, they’d probably be thrilled. Unfortunately, only a miserable end awaited those who touched those clothes. After all, each was at least a level 30 garment monster.

Qi Yuan slipped away quickly. Half an hour later, he finally stopped.

"At last, a spot rarely touched by the garments!" he exclaimed.

More than a dozen garment monsters were bent over by the river ahead, washing themselves. Their levels ranged from 30 to 50.

Qi Yuan’s eyes lit up. He drew his sword and shouted, "Monsters, taste my blade!"

His golden longsword expanded, growing several feet long. With a sweep, it stirred up a howling gale, overturning the river’s waters as it crashed down on the monsters.

Crackling and snapping filled the air as the garment monsters were smashed into strips.

[EXP +100]

[EXP +300]

[EXP +200]

At his current level, these low-level mobs were no more than papers.

"Not bad." Qi Yuan dusted his hands. "Time to find some more."

He’d enveloped the area with a skill that concealed the disturbance beforehand. It wouldn’t attract other garment monsters—or so he thought.

To his shock, the moment he turned to leave, hundreds of them came rushing his way. To make matters worse, his senses picked up waves of others converging from all directions.

Qi Yuan froze. "How the hell did I get exposed?!"

Without any time to think, he bolted. If he got surrounded, his fate would be grim.

1. is a classic Daoist cultivation term. Literally, it means "three flowers gathering at the crown (of the head)."

"Three flowers" symbolizes

精 (jīng) – essence (physical vitality)

气 (qì) – qi (life energy)

神 (shén) – spirit / consciousness

When a cultivator reaches a very high state, these three are said to condense into "three flowers" that rise and gather at the crown of the head. ☜