Chapter 1861 — 1861: Han Zexian's Diary

After tirelessly picking up and testing the pills from one spatial ring after another, Tian Yang finally sensed a change in his body upon consuming a pill from the tenth and final ring.

At first, he braced himself, expecting a surge of spiritual energy, perhaps an increase in his cultivation or physical strength. However, what he experienced was something different—a sharpening of his mind.

It was similar to the effects of the waterfall's water but more concentrated. His thoughts became clearer, more refined, as if a fog he hadn't even realized was there had been lifted. Every detail around him appeared more vivid, and his comprehension of his surroundings heightened, almost as if the strength of his divine sense had been amplified a hundred times.

Since the tenth spatial ring had pills that actually worked, Tian Yang put it aside and apart from the other rings in case he needed them.

Now that Tian Yang was done with the spatial rings, there was only one thing left in the cavern that he could realistically do, which was to return to studying the engravings on the wall.

After staring at the wall for days, Tian Yang realized one thing—that everything in the cavern seemed to assist Tian Yang or whoever was present in studying the engravings.

The waterfall and pills increased his mental strength, allowing him to be sharper, more observant, and more perceptive.

The cultivation bed sped up his cultivation speed, which would not just improve his mental capacity and strength but also increase his longevity, giving him more time to study the engravings.

"Everything points to the engravings on the walls, but what does it mean…? Is it a cultivation technique? Maybe a martial technique? I have no clue! Ah, Han Zexian, why didn't you leave behind some clues for your successor?"

After a few more days, Tian Yang took a break from the engravings and went to wash his face with the waterfall and then went on another cultivation session.

This time, he spent a month cultivating and reached the peak of Divine Warrior. Normally, a cultivator must face a heavenly tribulation upon reaching a new major realm, but due to Tian Yang's unique location, he did not have to face one.

Upon reaching Divine Warrior, Tian Yang learned Divine Gaze. Although most people would learn it a little later, Tian Yang was able to learn it early due to the amount of treasures he'd consumed that boosted his senses.

Once Tian Yang grew accustomed to Divine Gaze, he decided to put it to use, scanning the cavern once more with his enhanced perception.

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As his gaze swept across the chamber, something caught his attention—something he hadn't noticed before.

"Huh? What's that?" he muttered, his brows furrowing as his eyes locked onto the cultivation bed.

At first glance, it appeared no different from before—perfectly shaped, exuding boundless spiritual energy. But now, under the scrutiny of Divine Gaze, he could see faint, almost imperceptible lines along its edges. It wasn't just a solid platform—it was hiding something beneath.

Curious, Tian Yang stepped forward and placed his palms against the smooth surface. Applying force, he pushed.

To his surprise, the entire cultivation bed shifted.

A low, grating sound echoed through the cavern as the platform slid away, revealing a hidden compartment beneath.

Tian Yang's heart pounded with curious anticipation as he reached inside to grab the only object hidden within. When he held it before his eyes, Tian Yang could see clearly that the hidden object was an old, worn-out book.

He wondered if it was a technique, but his eyes widened with surprise after reading the title of said book.

The title was a single, simple word, and it was the word 'diary'.

Tian Yang wasted no time and opened the book to the first page, immediately reading its contents.

Soon, Tian Yang realized that the book contained vital information about the cavern, such as the herbs' identity, as well as the unknown pills' effects.

"Heavens! They were all longevity pills?! No wonder why I didn't feel anything after consuming them!"

"But Han Zexian was an Immortal. Why would he need longevity pills when he already can live forever without them?"

Tian Yang's question was answered as he read more of the Han Zexian's dairy.

Apparently, the engravings on the cavern walls contained information about a powerful and mysterious entity, one that might be omnipotent—an existence that held absolute control over the Divine Heavens. The words carved into the stone seemed to whisper secrets far beyond mortal comprehension, knowledge that transcended even the most powerful cultivators.

However, there was a terrible price for attempting to decipher them.

Any effort to understand these inscriptions would directly consume one's longevity.

It wasn't just a warning—it was a curse woven into the very text itself. The engravings were not meant for the unworthy, and those who sought their meaning would pay the cost with the most precious currency of all: their lifespan.

As Tian Yang continued reading the diary, his vision blurred, and an overwhelming fatigue washed over him. His eyelids grew heavy, his limbs sluggish, as if an unseen force was siphoning his very essence. It didn't take long before Tian Yang realized it wasn't ordinary fatigue but his longevity being drained.

The diary wasn't just a record—it was cursed knowledge, just like the engravings on the wall. Every word he read came at a cost, and the longer he continued, the more of his lifespan was sacrificed. This curse was so powerful and unforgiving that even Immortals—beings with seemingly infinite lifespans—were not immune to its effects. No matter how vast one's life force was, this curse would make them seem finite if they delved too deep into its knowledge.

"Just what kind of entity is so dangerous that even learning about it would shorten one's existence?" Tian Yang wondered out loud.

As insane and perilous as it was, Tian Yang couldn't suppress the burning curiosity rising within him. Even knowing the cost, even feeling his lifespan slipping away with every word, he couldn't stop.

Despite the dangers, despite the risk of his own lifespan being drained away, he wanted to know.

If the heavens sought to keep this entity a secret, then he would defy the heavens themselves.