Destiny in Cinders

The wonder, Temporal Grasp, was the result of the completion of the Imperial Sky and Earth Art. It was the true endpoint of Heaven's Child Art! The conditions to manifest the wonder were the mastery of Heaven's Child Art and a perfect understanding of the Imperial Sky and Earth Arts, bringing one to the selfless and wantless state. Only when these progressively difficult conditions were achieved would the wonder form.

Heaven's Child Art was the perfect inner observation technique to form a flawless foundation. Without it, one would not be able to use Temporal Grasp's increased temporal perception and speed without harming oneself.

Apart from that, even the most typical martial techniques, when paired with Heaven's Child Art, could be executed with elevated finesse. For instance, An Jing was easily able to use it to immediately shift the circulation paths of aura within his body to suit his altered state. This was different for every cultivator who mastered Heaven's Child Art. They would observe their bodies' internal state and adjust every martial technique they used to optimize for it. That also applied to the art itself, so each cultivator crafted Mahesvara Heaven's Child to suit their own unique needs!

So this is what happens when you make true progress in the Imperial Sky and Earth Arts. The Heavenly Demon Cult's legacies are filled with deep mysteries indeed. Mahesvara Heaven's Child...

The dao-comprehension state gradually receded after An Jing learned the art's name from the Heavenly Dao. He had made incredible progress during that session. Without having to beg others for it, he had obtained the perfect cultivation technique all the way through the Fortification Realm from his own efforts. Once things in Keensight calmed down, he needed only to find a secluded location to prepare for a breakthrough. Using Heaven's Child Art to forge his mind and body to perfection and Temporal Grasp, he would be able to advance to the next level!

I've gained far more than I expected! The defensive projected qi receded back into his body. His eyes were still closed as he recalled the sensations he felt earlier.

Given his talent, he would've discovered those mysteries had he meditated on the Imperial Sky and Earth Arts and their interactions with the human mind and its perceptions. However, that would have taken much more time and only reached a fraction of what he achieved during that short dao-comprehension state. Not to mention, being able to get those insights early on allowed him to optimize his state perfectly, greatly setting up his future training.

He really wished he could enter the dao-comprehension state a few more times. It was no wonder this state had such a good reputation, with most people yearning to experience it. That one time alone allowed An Jing to climb over the incredibly high wall that had so many people stumped.

It was also no wonder bearers of celestial arcs seldom perished from untimely incidents. Putting aside their luck and fortune, An Jing himself seemed to be able to understand and master almost all techniques he came across. Breaking through was just like breathing to him. Blessed with talent like that, he wasn't worried about his growth being stunted. Alas, he wasn't sure if he had the luxury of time to train to that point.

Either way, there was one thing he was certain of. This dao-comprehension state came about because I changed the fate of a million lives in Keensight. The next one will probably come after an incident of similar proportion. If I'm not careful, I could fall into an endless abyss. I need to be able to balance the risk and reward of dangerous and fortuitous encounters.

It was already close to daybreak. His dao-comprehension state had lasted half a day, during which he was completely undisturbed thanks to the folding screens around him.

Blessed Virtue Garden... I really have to thank them. He made a mental note of owing the establishment and Manager Li a favor. Even though he was sure that You Ruhui was protecting him in secret, she was greatly limited in what she could do to not expose herself.

An Jing raised his hand and felt a formless bundle of qi circulating within it, sucking in the dust around it. He gave it a light push and opened the window in front of him just slightly to let some air in. When he pulled back, the window closed again and was bolted up properly, all without any direct contact.

When one was near full mastery at the Tide Aura Stage, one would be able to manipulate circulations of spirit energy around oneself. It was not unlike the ability to expel qi that was unlocked at the River Aura Stage, but it came with much finer control and intentionality, allowing it to be used as an invisible hand of sorts.

An Jing recalled that Instructor Li from Direlife Manor had shown the children that trick before. Tried as he might, he wasn't able to hide how smug and gleeful he was at being able to pull it off. An Jing finally reached the level of being able to do the same thing.

He turned around and pushed away the folding screen only to see Manager Li sleeping in a chair nearby. His full name was Li Xiao. It was elegant and refined, a sign that his parents were enculturated people. His father was the former manager of Blessed Virtue Garden while he had worked there as an errand boy until he took over his father's position.

Manager Li dealt with matters satisfactorily most of the time. He also had a decent family background. It was a shame that he didn't have any talent for the martial path and had reached the peak of what he was capable of in life. That was why he always tried to form ties with people with potential, not just for his own sake, but also Blessed Virtue Garden's. At the very least, he wanted to witness freshness and potentiality, even if they weren't his own.

The worst thing that can happen to someone was losing the drive to improve. An Jing was lucky enough that he met someone who continued to strive like Manager Li. Who else would go out of their way to help him as he did? Most people would be satisfied with their middle-management positions and try to do less than they had to, let alone going out of their way to introduce their clients to their contacts.

If there's a chance in the future, I should let him profit off my interworld trade. With that thought in mind, he left the manager alone. Right as he went around the corner, You Ruhui appeared without a sound and made a silence sigil.

"Did your dao-comprehension state come to an end?" She had a complicated expression on her face. It was one of delight and perplexed wonder. "I have witnessed the operation of major terrestrial-vein formations up close since childhood at the palace and have never entered such a state. Yet, all you did was get a glance at it from afar."

It seemed that she had misunderstood the nature of his breakthrough. Then again, it was a good thing. An Jing couldn't exactly go around telling others that he had a celestial arc that gave him feedback for saving so many lives, which he used to enter the dao-comprehension state. "Perhaps I am karmically linked to Keensight somehow."

"That does sound possible," You Ruhui said, nodding as if she was convinced. Yet, another doubt surfaced in her mind. "What do we do next? Entering a dao-comprehension state will draw attention. You've been exposed to the city's authorities!"

He shot her an odd look and said, "So what? I'm not like you. I won't be captured just because I showed up. I'm only just someone on the run from the demonic cult. Nobody will link me to you. It isn't a big deal if they find me, right? Back then, I almost followed the Crimsonguard out of Direlife Canyon. Even if Grand Chen notices me, there's not much they would do against me. If I say I want to return to Dustdawn, will they really stop or arrest me?"