Chapter 6: Are You Happy, Being This Cheeky at Death's Door?

The figure writing the memoir did not answer Su Han's question.

It's not like someone writing a memoir would expect a person from the future to be able to get skills from a Skill Tree. So who would bother to write something in their memoir like, 'Next to the stone tablet where I had my fortuitous encounter, there were two trees. One was a jujube tree, and the other was also a jujube tree'?

This wasn't a novel that needed Mr. Zhou to pad the word count.

The writing continued, and Su Han could only suppress his doubts and read on.

"I obtained the Heaven and Earth Melting Furnace Technique, but plagued by an insufficient foundation, I never dared to cultivate it freely.

Three years later, the Sumeru Sect opened its Immortal Sect gates. Hearing that the Sumeru Sect possessed the Golden Body Foundation Establishment Method, I underwent numerous trials and joined the Sumeru Sect.

Three months in the Outer Sect, half a year in the Inner Sect. After three years in the Sumeru Sect, I was promoted to Core True Inheritance and received the Sumeru Sect's Golden Body Foundation Establishment Method—the Body Tempering Chapter."

"One day, my master, Divine Monk Liowen, summoned me for a secret talk. He said that although the Sumeru Sect's Golden Body Foundation Establishment Method was powerful, its core was merely the Body Tempering Chapter.

It was said that the Dao Yuan Sect had a primordial Foundation Establishment method, and its Muscle Strengthening method was second to none.

On my master's orders, I changed my appearance, name, and disposition, and successfully joined the Dao Yuan Sect.

Another three years passed. I was promoted to Core True Inheritance and received the primordial Foundation Establishment method—the Muscle Strengthening Chapter."

"One day, my master, Daoist Xuan Yuan, summoned me for a secret talk. He said that although the Dao Yuan Sect's primordial Foundation Establishment method was powerful, its core was merely the Muscle Strengthening Chapter.

It was said that the Supreme Dao had the Supreme Foundation Establishment Method, and its Bone Forging method was the best in the world.

On my master's orders, I changed my appearance, name, and disposition, and successfully joined the Supreme Sect.

Another three years later, I was promoted to Core True Inheritance and received the Supreme Foundation Establishment Method—the Bone Forging Chapter."

"Yet another day, my master, Master Taixuan, summoned me for a secret talk..."

"I entered the Celestial Demon Sect. In three years, I obtained the Celestial Demon Foundation Establishment Method—the Blood Exchange Chapter."

"I entered the Taiyin Sect. In three years, I was taught the Nine Yin Foundation Establishment Method—the Eardrum Chapter."

"I entered the Sword Sect. In three years, I was taught the Celestial Sword Foundation Establishment Method—the Five Elements Organ Chapter."

"Three years after three years, and then three years more.

I don't know how many three-year periods later, I received another undercover mission. The target: the Sumeru Sect, for the Golden Body Foundation Establishment Method—Body Tempering Chapter."

"I knew that if my deeds were exposed, my end would not be a peaceful one. Helpless, I had no choice but to flee the Central State. After many twists and turns, I ended up in the barren lands of Qing Province, changed my name to Su Guangxing, and started a new life."

Su Han: "..."

'Su Guangxing?'

'It has to be. It really is you, the founding emperor of the Jing Country, the legendary ancestor of the Su Family.'

'But, Ancestor, your life has been truly legendary. If this were written down, it would definitely be a masterpiece of an autobiographical novel.'

'Still, you were such a master of the Infernal Dao, tricking your way into so many Foundation Establishment methods, and all of them the strongest parts from each sect. So how is it that the royal family's current inheritance, this Nameless Foundation Establishment Method, only has a decent Blood Exchange Method while the rest is such trash?'

Perhaps he heard Su Han's inner voice, or perhaps the old ancestor had intended to explain this all along.

Just as this doubt arose in Su Han's mind, the ancestor picked up his brush and continued to write.

"I fled to Qing Province and lived in obscurity. Using the Heaven and Earth Melting Furnace as the core, I fused the Golden Body Foundation Establishment Method—Body Tempering Chapter; the primordial Foundation Establishment method—Muscle Strengthening Chapter; the Supreme Foundation Establishment Method—Bone Forging Chapter; the Celestial Demon Foundation Establishment Method—Blood Exchange Chapter; the Nine Yin Foundation Establishment Method—Eardrum Chapter; and the Celestial Sword Foundation Establishment Method—Five Elements Organ Chapter.

After thirteen years, I single-handedly created the Nine Heavens Ten Earths Ancient and Modern First Foundation Establishment Method—the Celestial Dao Foundation Establishment Method."

"I crippled my own foundation and re-cultivated with the Celestial Dao Foundation Establishment Method. I achieved Foundation Establishment in a single day. Afterwards, using the Heaven and Earth Melting Furnace for Furnace-Nurtured Hundred Scriptures, I forged my Spirit Platform in half a month, opened my Sea of Consciousness in three months, and in a mere three years, I built my Ascension Platform."

"With my Ascension Platform built, I was already a top expert in all of Qing Province.

One day, out of sheer boredom, I reflected on how I had risen from humble beginnings and couldn't help but feel that kings and nobles are not born, but made.

It was a time of chaos. On a whim, I raised an army and conquered a vast dynasty."

"Upon ascending the Twelve-Layered Immortal Platform, I glimpsed the Celestial Human Realm. This was also the beginning of my misfortune."

"The Heaven and Earth Melting Furnace... when its technique is mastered, it cannot be contained by the heavens nor destroyed by the earth. It is rejected by the world. I obtained a Fragmented Technique, and for glimpsing the realm of a Celestial Being, I incurred Heaven's jealousy, leading to a disastrous late life."

"I eked out an existence for another thirty years and found the solution to Heaven's jealousy: those who cultivate the Heaven and Earth Melting Furnace Technique must complete the Fragmented Technique before peeking into the Celestial Human Realm. Otherwise, they will surely face heavenly retribution."

"Because of the calamity associated with the Heaven and Earth Melting Furnace, I did not dare pass it on to my descendants, and could only create another Cultivation Method for them to inherit."

"The Celestial Dao Foundation Establishment Method was created with the Heaven and Earth Melting Furnace at its core. Without cultivating the Heaven and Earth Melting Furnace, one cannot achieve Celestial Dao Foundation Establishment. I regret that I was unable to obtain a complete Foundation Establishment method back then, and had to dismantle the Celestial Dao Foundation Establishment Method to complete each part separately."

"After many experiments, I learned that the fragmented version of the Celestial Demon Foundation Establishment Method—Blood Exchange Chapter—was beneficial at the final stage of Foundation Establishment, so I left this Fragmented Technique behind."

At this point, Su Han had resolved all of his doubts.

His ancestor was originally from the Central State. As a young cowherd, he chanced upon the Heaven and Earth Melting Furnace Technique, and later joined the Sumeru Sect.

In the Sumeru Sect, he received his master's orders and began his life in the Infernal Dao.

Perhaps Master Liowen had the sharp eye to spot the ancestor's talent for being a mole, or perhaps the ancestor was just born with the innate attribute of being a natural-born spy. In any case, after the Sumeru Sect, the ancestor began his journey on the Infernal Dao.

In the end, after playing the Infernal Dao game for so many years that he had almost forgotten his own status as a multiple-agent spy, the ancestor suddenly discovered he was being sent back to the Sumeru Sect.

He knew that if he went back, his identity would most likely be exposed.

Playing the Infernal Dao game from one sect to another wasn't a huge deal; as long as you rendered meritorious service, your home sect would always protect you.

But the ancestor also knew just how overboard he had gone. Someone like him, who had so smoothly infiltrated every single sect, would feel it was a letdown if he wasn't beaten to death upon being caught.

Forced by circumstance, the ancestor fled the Central State and came to this small patch of land in Qing Province to establish the Jing Country.

That was the ancestor's legendary life. After his legend was forged, the ancestor created the Celestial Dao Foundation Establishment Method, but it could only be cultivated with the Heaven and Earth Melting Furnace as its core.

The ancestor used the Celestial Dao Foundation Establishment Method to reach Foundation Establishment in a single day. But he was made by the Heaven and Earth Melting Furnace, and also broken by it. Because the Heaven and Earth Melting Furnace Technique couldn't withstand the heavenly retribution, it ultimately led to a life of great misfortune.

That misfortune was probably truly terrifying, far more horrifying than anyone could imagine. That's why the ancestor would rather take the Heaven and Earth Melting Furnace to his grave, rather let his self-created Celestial Dao Foundation Establishment become a thing of the past, than dare to pass it on to his descendants.

The Foundation Establishment method inherited by his own royal family was also something the helpless ancestor created on this basis.

'But... even though I understand all this, I still have some doubts.'

'Since the ancestor decided to take the secret to his grave, why write all this down?'

Just as he was wondering, Su Han saw his ancestor's brush-wielding hand move again.

With a wave of his hand, the autobiography turned to dust. He took out a blank booklet, and with a flurry of strokes, the ancestor finished writing the royal family's 'Nameless Foundation Establishment Method'.

Just as Su Han was feeling puzzled, he saw his ancestor, who had only ever shown his back, suddenly turn his head.

"Sun Thief, are there a lot of things you can't figure out?

To tell you the truth, I, your ancestor, left this autobiography for you to see.

Having lived such a legendary life but being unable to let my descendants know about it... I'd feel suffocated even in death! So I could only leave this spiritual imprint in this book, waiting for a descendant to trigger it.

Don't ask me how I knew you would trigger this spiritual projection. If you hadn't met the conditions, you wouldn't be hearing this.

Since you can hear it, you must have obtained the Heaven and Earth Melting Furnace, a Cultivation Technique rejected by heaven and earth.

I don't know where you got it from, but big Sun Thief, even though I'm dead, your ancestor must remind you: if you really decide to cultivate this technique, you must, must, MUST complete it before reaching the Celestial Human Realm.

If you can't complete it, don't even think about peeking into the Celestial Human Realm, even if it means death.

Listen to your ancestor, my good Sun Thief. Remember, even if you die, even if our entire family is slaughtered, if you cannot complete this technique, do not dare to seek the Celestial Human Realm. Otherwise, you will absolutely regret it."

Su Han: "..."

'Ancestor... are you happy, being so mischievous?'

As if guessing Su Han's thoughts, the ancestor's projection gave a playful wink. "Not gonna lie, being mischievous like this makes this old ancestor really happy. After all these years, I was about to go crazy..."

Seemingly touching upon a topic he didn't want to discuss, the ancestor fell silent for a moment. "Alright, this ancestor's time is short. No more messing around. Let's get to business."

Su Han's expression turned serious, and he subconsciously replied, "Please, speak."

The long-dead ancestor naturally couldn't hear this, but he still gave a benevolent smile. "Since you've obtained the Heaven and Earth Melting Furnace, I probably couldn't stop you from cultivating it even if I tried.

In that case, let me, an ancestor who's been dead for who knows how many years, help you out one more time.

Next, I will recite the incantation for the Celestial Dao Foundation Establishment Method. Sun Thief, you'd better listen carefully."

Su Han's spirit jolted. He quickly cleared his mind of stray thoughts and focused his attention.

He saw the ancestor put on a serious face, take a deep breath, and assume a solemn expression.

"Celestial Dao Foundation Establishment: Bury yourself in the Earth of the Four Extremes, merge with the Five Elements Essence, burn with the Yin-Yang Dual Flames, and forge a foundation that incurs Heaven's jealousy.

Once the method is complete, you cannot be buried by the heavens nor destroyed by the earth."

Su Han: "That's it?"

The ancestor nodded seriously. "That's it. It's a bit difficult. My descendant, did you remember it?"

After speaking, without waiting for an answer, the ancestor's figure gradually dissipated.

Su Han: "..."

'Ancestor, pulling a prank like that right at the end... are you really happy?'