The sun was setting, and the sky turned deep shades of orange and purple, casting an orange glow over the small city. The air was cool and crisp, signaling the end of summer and the start of autumn. A young man stood on the outside of the city gate, gazing out at the rolling hills beyond. He was tall and lean, with sharp features and deep-set eyes. His name was Liang Zhi, and he was not from this city.

Liang Zhi was a man like no other. He had lived for over three centuries, but he was not a cultivator. When he was a young scholar of 35, obsessed with uncovering the secrets of the universe, he consumed a spiritual herb that made him an immortal who would not die and would revive after 12 hours with all personal memories reset. He had devoted his life to the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom. He had traveled the world, seeking out the greatest scholars and masters of all kinds. He had studied medicine, philosophy, and martial arts, and he had become a master of all of them. He had even dabbled in alchemy and divination, but he had always been drawn to cultivation. He had learned to harness the power of Qi, allowing him to control the elements and perform incredible feats of strength and agility, but all of this was not even the surface of what real cultivators do.

Liang Zhi had been researching cultivation manuals for over two centuries, but he had never been able to create a manual that provided the level of detail and insight he pursued. If he wanted, he could have started his cultivation journey long ago, but he didn't because he didn't want to cultivate dao, which literally means the pursuit of the path without even understanding what the path is, its mystery, purpose, and depth. As what he lacked most was not time, but the understanding of the path.

Liang Zhi gazed out over the vast landscape before him, a mixture of awe and curiosity filling his mind. He had been traveling the world for centuries, yet he still found himself fascinated by the beauty and mystery of the world around him. The massive gate was flanked by two towering statues, each depicting a fierce-looking warrior with a sword in one hand and a shield in the other. The gate was heavily guarded, and Liang Zhi knew that he would have to convince the guards to let him enter.

Approaching the guards, Liang Zhi could see the skepticism in their eyes. "What business do you have here?" one of them demanded, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

"I am Liang Zhi," he replied calmly, "a traveler seeking knowledge and wisdom. I have come to this city in search of the greatest cultivators and scholars."

The guards exchanged a glance before one of them stepped forward. "We cannot simply let anyone into the city, especially not without proper credentials," he said sternly.

Liang Zhi nodded in understanding. "I am well aware of the importance of security. However, I assure you that I am no threat to this city. I have spent my entire life pursuing knowledge and wisdom, and I come to this city in search of the same."

The guards studied him for a few moments before the one who had spoken before nodded. "Very well," he said, "but we will need to search your belongings before we allow you to enter."

Liang Zhi nodded and stepped forward, allowing the guards to search him. They found nothing of concern, and he was allowed to pass through the gate and enter the city

The city was unlike any that Liang Zhi had ever seen. It was a bustling metropolis, filled with people of all kinds. Merchants shouted out their wares from street stalls, and scholars debated in open courtyards. The sounds of the city filled the air, from the clanging of blacksmiths' hammers to the calls of street vendors.

As he walked through the bustling streets of the city, he couldn't help but observe the people around him. They went about their daily lives, completely unaware of the ancient being in their midst, his appearance unchanged for over three centuries. Liang Zhi had learned long ago to blend in with his surroundings, to avoid drawing too much attention to himself. He had no interest in becoming famous or powerful; his only desire was to enjoy his life fullest and cultivation is the only way to achieve it.

He approached a small shop, its sign proclaiming it to be a purveyor of rare books and manuscripts. Liang Zhi's eyes lit up; he had been searching and researching cultivation tomes for years, and he had a clue that this might be the place where he would find one of the tome he was searching for. He pushed open the door and stepped inside, the musty scent of old parchment filling his nostrils. The shopkeeper, an old man with a kindly face, looked up from his desk and smiled. "Welcome, traveler. What can I do for you today?" Liang Zhi nodded politely. "I am in search of a rare tome," he said. "It is said to contain knowledge of the ancient history, and your family should have one I am looking for."

The shopkeeper's eyes widened. "Ah, you seek the forbidden knowledge. Very well, I may have just the thing for you."

Liang Zhi smiled inwardly at the mention of "forbidden knowledge." He had encountered such things before on his travels, but he knew better than to dismiss them out of hand. The ancient arts were powerful and dangerous, and yet they held the key to unlocking the secrets of the universe.

As the shopkeeper disappeared into the back room, Liang Zhi glanced around the shop, taking in the shelves of tomes and manuscripts that lined the walls. He noticed that many of the tomes were written in languages that he had never seen before, which only piqued his curiosity even further.

After a few minutes, the shopkeeper returned, carrying a thick, leather-bound tome. He set it on the counter and pushed it toward Liang Zhi.

Liang Zhi's heart quickened as he took the thick, leather-bound tome from the shopkeeper's outstretched hand. The cover was worn and cracked with age, and the gold lettering on the spine was barely visible. He opened the tome, and his eyes widened as he saw the pages filled with ancient symbols and diagrams. He traced the letters with his finger, trying to make out the title. Though He recognized some of the alphabet shapes in the script from his previous studies, most were completely foreign to him.

"What language is this?" he asked the shopkeeper, his eyes still fixed on the tome.

The old man smiled knowingly. "That is a language that has long been forgotten by mortals. It is said to have been used by the gods themselves."

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Liang Zhi felt a chill run down his spine at the mention of the gods. He had never been a particularly religious man, but he had always been fascinated by the myths and legends that surrounded the gods and their interactions with mortals. He knew that there were many powerful cultivators who claimed to have been blessed by the gods or who sought to ascend to godhood themselves.

"May I see inside?" he asked, eager to uncover the secrets that lay within.

The shopkeeper nodded and opened the ‌tome to the first page. Liang Zhi's eyes widened as he saw the intricate symbols and diagrams that covered the page. He had seen many cultivation tomes before, but this was unlike anything he had ever encountered.

"This is incredible" he thought, tracing the symbols with his finger. "What is this?"

The shopkeeper smiled enigmatically. "That, my friend, is knowledge that has been lost to mortals for centuries. It contains the secrets of the gods and their interactions with mortals. It speaks of the ancient wars between the gods and the demons, of the divine weapons that were wielded by the gods themselves, and of the rituals that were used to summon their aid."

Liang Zhi could hardly contain his excitement. This was exactly what he had been searching for all these years, knowledge that had been lost to the world for centuries. He knew that this tome would contain information that could take his research in different cultivation levels to the next level, and he was eager to delve into its secrets.

"How much?" he asked, not daring to take his eyes off the page.

The shopkeeper did not immediately mention the price of the book, indicating that it may be a significant amount of money. Shopkeeper hesitated for a moment, as if weighing the value of the tome against the amount of money he wanted to receive for it. Finally, he replied, "This tome is very rare, and contains knowledge that is forbidden in many places. I can let it go for ten thousand gold pieces."

Liang Zhi raised an eyebrow at the price. Though the shopkeeper named a price that was exorbitant by mortal standards, but Liang Zhi knew that it was worth every coin.

Liang Zhi had a secret that he kept close to his heart, a spatial ring that he had obtained during his travels. The ring was a small, unassuming piece of jewelry that contained a pocket dimension inside it, allowing Liang Zhi to store items far beyond what the ring's small size would suggest.

Liang Zhi had obtained the spatial ring during a perilous journey through a dangerous mountain pass. He had stumbled upon a hidden cave system, and inside, he had found a powerful cultivator who had been mortally wounded in battle. The cultivator had gifted Liang Zhi the spatial ring as a token of gratitude for helping him in his final moments.

Ever since that fateful day, Liang Zhi had used the spatial ring to carry his most prized possessions, including his vast collection of books and valuable artifacts. He could access the pocket dimension at will, using a simple thought to bring forth the items he needed.

As he entered the bookshop, Liang Zhi had brought with him only a small pouch of gold coins, knowing that he could easily access the rest of his wealth through the spatial ring.

He reached into his bag and pulled out a small pouch of gold coins. He counted out the required amount and handed it to the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper counted the gold coins, nodding in satisfaction. He wrapped the tome in brown paper and tied it with a string before handing it to Liang Zhi.

"Thank you," he said, tucking the tome under his arm. "You have no idea how much this means to me."

The shopkeeper smiled. "I have a feeling that you will put it to good use. Just remember, knowledge is a double-edged sword. It can bring great power and great danger."

Liang Zhi nodded solemnly, knowing that the shopkeeper was right. He had encountered many powerful cultivators who had been driven mad by their thirst for knowledge and power. But he was not like them, He had spent centuries learning from the greatest masters of all time, and he had learned to balance his pursuit of knowledge with a sense of detachment and humility.

As he stepped out of the shop and into the bustling street, he could feel the weight of the tome under his arm. He knew that he would have to be careful with its contents, for they were not meant for mortal eyes. But he was confident in his abilities and his knowledge, and he knew that he could handle whatever secrets the tome contained.

Liang Zhi spent the next few days poring over the ancient tome, his eyes devouring its words and his mind struggling to comprehend the knowledge within. As Liang Zhi delved deeper into the tome, he found himself increasingly fascinated by its contents. The book contained knowledge of the gods and the mortals that had long been forgotten by most of the humanity. He was amazed by the level of detail and insight that the ancient scribes had recorded in the tome, detailing the lives and actions of gods and mortals alike.

At first, Liang Zhi struggled to make sense of the tome's dense language and complex concepts. The tome was written in a script that he had never seen before, and some of the terms and concepts it contained were beyond his current understanding. But Liang Zhi was not one to give up easily. He was a scholar and a master of many disciplines, and he was determined to unlock the secrets contained within the tome.

He spent hours each day studying the tome, pouring over its pages and taking careful notes. He used his knowledge of linguistics and translation to decipher the script, cross-referencing the words and phrases he found with other texts he had collected over his many years of study. He also used his knowledge of philosophy and religion to try to understand the concepts and ideas contained within the tome.

Slowly but surely, Liang Zhi began to unravel the secrets contained within the tome. He discovered that the gods were not the all-powerful beings that many believed them to be. In fact, the gods were subject to the same flaws and weaknesses as mortals, and their actions often had far-reaching consequences for the world around them.

One of the most intriguing stories he encountered was the tale of a group of powerful beings who had come from the heavens and established themselves as gods among the mortals. They were said to have arrived at great chariots of fire, wielding weapons of unimaginable power.

These beings, who came to be known as the Celestials, had changed the course of human history. They had taught the mortals how to farm, build homes, and create societies. They had also introduced the concept of spirituality, and their influence had led to the creation of many religions throughout the world.

In the tome it shows truth to the myths with historical record. One such example was the tale of a group of people known as the Aryans, who had invaded and conquered a land far to the east. Regardless of the circumstances of their arrival, the Aryans had a profound impact on the culture and religion of the local populace. They introduced a new pantheon of gods, including Indra, Agni, and Varuna, who were worshiped through complex rituals and sacrifices. They also brought with them a new worldview, based on the concepts of dharma (duty), karma (action and consequence), and moksha (liberation from the cycle of reincarnation).

The Aryans established themselves as the ruling class and enforced their religion on the local populace. But the power of the Aryans did not come solely from their military might. It was also the power of faith that helped establishment of the religion. The concept of spirituality was integral to the Aryan religion, and their priests were able to use this to great effect. They were able to convince the local population to accept the Aryan gods as their own, and in doing so, solidify the power of the ruling class. Over time, the Aryans established themselves as the dominant culture in India, and their religious traditions evolved into what is now known as Hinduism. This process involved the absorption and assimilation of local indigenous gods and traditions, as well as the development of new religious texts, such as the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita. Through the power of faith, the Aryans had transformed themselves into gods in the eyes of the mortals, and their influence had lasted for centuries.

As Liang Zhi continued to read, he began to see the patterns and connections between the different stories. He realized that although the names and places had changed over time, the underlying themes and messages remained the same. It was as if the tome was a living record of human history, tracing the evolution of human consciousness from its earliest beginnings to the present day. He read the tome with a sense of wonder and awe, feeling that he had gained a greater understanding of the universe and his place in it. He knew that the knowledge contained within the tome was powerful and dangerous, but he also knew that it was necessary for him to continue on his path of enlightenment.

Liang Zhi knew that he had stumbled upon something truly remarkable something that could change the way people thought about their place in the world. He resolved to continue his study of the tome, determined to unlock its secrets.