Shushan Earthly Immortal

Chapter 403 Nine Transformations of True Form, Qu Zu's Summoning (5.2K words presented, please support with monthly votes~)

Two white flames floated in the void, transforming into two pure white lotus pedestals. The lotus pedestals emitted terrifyingly high temperatures, so intense that the void itself churned and swelled. The churning void resembled splashing waves, which in turn accentuated the white lotuses, making them appear as if they were truly situated in a lotus pond.

Such a scene, though magnificent and sacred, can only be admired from afar and not touched. The terrifying heat emanating from the white lotus flames is enough to deter anyone from approaching.

Two lotus platforms, one with a crimson sword furnace floating on it, and the other with a long, blue dragon-shaped vine floating on it.

Behind the two lotus platforms sat a Taoist priest, continuously pouring the five elements of metal and various spiritual materials into them. As the celestial fire purified the impurities from the two magical treasures, extracting the essence of the added spiritual materials and combining them, the treasures' radiance became even more dazzling.

The large crater on the sword furnace has been restored to its original state, and the firebird pattern on it has become more realistic, as if it might fly out at any moment. The dragon shape of the vine rope is also becoming more complete, with its head, horns, scales, claws, and tail all showing up, making it almost indistinguishable from a long, thin azure dragon.

The process of refining treasures, especially the refining of the Dragon Rope, is a process of eliminating the dross and retaining the essence, and it is also a process of great change. It also contains Cheng Xinzhan's understanding of the true form of the divine dragon.

In this process, he was both refining magical artifacts externally and refining his life essence internally.

At this moment, in the Crimson Palace, the life embryo on the cloud bed has undergone tremendous changes compared to its original form.

Thanks to the abundant nourishment of the elixir energy and the supply of true essence, the tiny white-pink bud has now grown very strong and tall. It can no longer be called a small bud, but a plump and fleshy pink vine.

The tender vines do not grow straight upwards, but naturally bend to one side, curling up like a fetus. Overall, it looks like a drawn bow, or a baby dragon being conceived in a dragon egg.

In internal alchemy, there is a specific term to describe this state of the embryonic life form, which is the second transformation in the "Nine Transformations of Embryo Formation": "Dragon Bow".

None of the terms used in Neidan (internal alchemy) are chosen arbitrarily. The name "Dragon Bow" is chosen for both its form and meaning. The dragon represents spirit and flight; the bow represents drawing and releasing an arrow. Both imply soaring upwards. Using this name for the second stage of fetal development naturally reflects high hopes.

In addition, the words "Dragon Bow" also point out the best appearance for this stage - it should be as vigorous as a dragon and as powerful as a bow.

Cheng Xinzhan visualized the dragon's form, externally refining the dragon rope and internally refining the dragon bow, until both reached perfection.

He stood up, opened his mouth and inhaled, drawing in the Fire Lotus, the Dragon Rope, and the Sword Furnace. The Fire Lotus and the Sword Furnace entered his heart, while the Dragon Rope entered his liver.

Cheng Xinzhan gazed at the mountains from Xuanyang Cave, where heavy snow fell, turning the mountains white.

There are no Jiazi in the mountains, and it is so cold that I don’t know the year.

When I returned from Wuliang Mountain, the maple leaves in the mountains were just beginning to turn red. Now, half a year has passed since I completed the treasure and made some progress in my cultivation.

He flew out of Xuanyang Cave on the wind and arrived at Sanqing Palace.

“Xinzhan has arrived, please sit down.”

Ji Hehe always greeted Cheng Xinzhan with a smile, but upon closer inspection, he would be surprised.

"The embryonic stage has undergone two transformations; has it reached the 'Dragon Bow' stage?"

Cheng Xinzhan nodded, wondering what realm the sect leader was at, and what supernatural abilities he cultivated. From the beginning of the first realm until now, he seemed to have always been transparent in the sect leader's eyes.

Ji Hehe nodded and said with a smile,
"I have reviewed the 'Sun Burning Palace Method' that you have incorporated into the sect's archives. It is indeed an excellent method. In addition, your elixir purification is complete, and the elixir energy is in a golden hue. With this combination of essence and energy, your 'flesh bud' will be of high quality. Furthermore, your affinity with the dragon race is extremely deep, so it is obvious without even a close look that your 'dragon bow' will possess the true form of a dragon. As a result, the first two stages of your embryonic transformation can be considered very stable, and the future achievements of this infant are limitless."

Cheng Xinzhan wasn't particularly modest about this assessment. He also didn't hide anything from Ji Hehe, stating frankly,
"Thanks to the blessings of my ancestors, my luck is indeed quite good. As the sect leader knows, I was there when the ginseng fruit sprouted, and I witnessed the moment the tender sprout emerged from its shell. It left a deep impression on me. So when the essence and energy merged with the sprout, I visualized the true form of the ginseng fruit sprouting. I think that my ability to transform from a sprout into a dragon in just one year may also be related to this."

Upon hearing this, Ji Hehe slapped his thigh and burst into laughter.
"Yes! Yes! I had completely forgotten you had such an opportunity. Excellent, excellent! 'Flesh buds' are the beginning of transformation. The word 'flesh' signifies the transformation from false to real, and the word 'bud' signifies the creation from nothingness. You have been nurtured by the true form of the ginseng fruit bud. I think your starting point is truly unique in this world!"

Cheng Xinzhan nodded with a smile. This kind of predestined encounter was indeed rare and hard to come by. Aside from himself and Yongliang, everyone else who had personally witnessed the ginseng fruit sprout was either at the fourth or fifth realm, or even an immortal, having long since passed through the embryonic transformation stage. Later, once the ginseng fruit grew into a sapling, this true form could no longer be seen. Moreover, he was skilled in visualizing and preserving the form, and possessed a quick mind, which allowed him to guide the "flesh bud" towards the true form of the ginseng fruit sprout during the embryonic transformation. As for Yongliang, although he had already given him a hint, he probably wouldn't be able to truly utilize it.

It is no exaggeration to say that this is the only one of its kind in the world.

"From that perspective, your first two stages can't be described as merely 'stable'; 'perfect' wouldn't be an exaggeration."

Ji Hehe stroked his chin.

Cheng Xinzhan did not deny that he was indeed pursuing perfection, or rather, he had always been pursuing perfection. In the first realm, he achieved perfection by opening the five palaces with the inner vision method; in the third realm, he achieved perfection by completing the Nine-Nine Purple Cloud with the Four Cleansings. In the second realm, he formed his elixir with the true forms of the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiend Dragon and Tiger. Gang refers to the ancient Rain Gang, and Fiend refers to the first Fiend, which could also be considered a minor perfection.

However, the second realm's life essence is unique; the acupoints throughout the body can be opened while cultivating. Therefore, I formed the elixir prematurely without opening all of them, leaving some loose ends. But in the years since entering the third realm, with the cultivation of my divided spirit avatar and the continuous opening of acupoints, plus two special acupoint openings specifically for the routes of "Kidney Essence Entering Crimson" and "Elixir Qi Entering Crimson," I now have eight or nine out of ten acupoints opened. The remaining ones are the acupoints along the path from the Purple Palace of Divine Illumination, which are also being opened gradually.

Cheng Xinzhan's plan was to simultaneously achieve the perfection of embryonic development and the perfection of life essence, so as to greet the three calamities with a flawless body. This was the optimal solution he could think of that would be the fastest and best.

"If the first two transformations are already complete, then there's no reason not to forge a True Form with nine transformations, all of which are perfect. The next two stages of the 'Dragon Bow' are 'Lotus Seedpod' and 'Lotus Root Essence,' both related to the lotus flower. The form of the Dao manifests as a person in spirit, as jade in vessel, and as the lotus in flower. If you wish to perfect the embryonic transformation, then you must next contemplate the Dao form of the lotus flower. Do you have any thoughts on this?"

Ji Hehe guessed Cheng Xinzhan's intention and asked with great interest.

Upon hearing this, Cheng Xinzhan flipped his left hand, revealing a blood-red lotus platform in his palm. He said,
"I obtained this 'Floating Life Burning Karma Lotus' during my demon-slaying journey at Tianqiao Mountain and refined it into an incarnation. This spiritual root has no stem or lotus root; its leaves and roots grow directly from the lotus seedpod, making it perfect for observing and comprehending the lotus seedpod. Many years ago, the sect leader also gifted me a 'Nine-Hole Dust-Free Lotus,' which I used as an incarnation for a period of time, thus I also have some understanding of the lotus root's shape. Of course, these are just references; in my future cultivation, I will certainly need to study lotus flowers more extensively to comprehend a more perfect lotus shape."

In fact, the way he has been condensing lotus flowers with flames during his recent weapon crafting is a method of comprehending the lotus shape.

Ji Hehe nodded and said,

"Whether it's the 'Floating Life Burning Karma Lotus' or the 'Nine-Hole Dust-Free Lotus,' both are excellent spiritual roots. You also have experience using them to incarnate a divine being, so normally, guaranteeing a successful transformation is definitely not a problem. However, as you said, these can only be used as a reference. After all, compared to the ginseng fruit sprout and your own understanding of the dragon form, these two are far inferior."

He thought for a moment and said,

"Well then, it's up to you. If you want to rest in the mountains for a while, then go to Baicao Mountain. There's Qingbai Lake there, with thousands of acres of lotus flowers and countless kinds of spiritual lotuses. You should be able to observe the lotus forms there. If you want to go out, I suggest going to Luofu Mountain. The Lotus Cave Heaven and Spiritual Lake on Luofu Mountain are even larger, with even more spiritual lotuses. It's a famous lotus viewing spot in the world. I'll write you a letter of recommendation to take to Master Shizheng, and he can lead you into the cave." Cheng Xinzhan pondered for a moment after hearing this, then asked a question instead of answering.

"Sect Leader, is the Dragon-Bathing Staff now under control?"

Ji Hehe nodded.
"Of course, this is nothing difficult. The primordial spirit, golden core, and nascent soul are all locked up. The person is still imprisoned. What, do you want to use it?"

Cheng Xinzhan nodded in agreement.
"Now that Brother Fadao is stationed at Weibao Mountain and Master Zang is stationed at Ailao Mountain, the two gates protect Wuliang Mountain from the rear, ensuring its safety. Wuliang Mountain has also been restored to normalcy after the demonic transformation, and there are also people guarding the sect's Shuji Mountain and Baihu Mountain, so there is little point in me going there again."

"Let's leave the Yunnan region to the Lushan Sect. They'll be more enthusiastic there and play a much greater role than they would in Fujian or Yuyang. Once they've settled in Ailao Mountain and experienced the beauty of Yunnan's mountains and rivers, they'll naturally turn their attention to Fuxian Lake and Nanpan River without us even having to urge them. By then, Brother Fadao will have firmly established himself, Wan Gaoming will have broken through the four realms, and Weibao Mountain and Wuliang Mountain will be ready to serve."

"how about you?"

“Since the Lushan Sect has been transferred to Dianwen, I will naturally go to Yuyang to fill the vacancy. I will take the Mulong Staff with me. He is the Mu King of the Southern Sect. After the change of control of Ailao Mountain, the Southern Sect probably all thought he was dead. When he appears on the front line in Yuyang, I think the expressions of the Southern Sect demons will be quite interesting. I will stay in Luofu Mountain, where I can both visualize the lotus form and resist the Southern Demons.”

Ji Hehe listened quietly, then suddenly smiled.
"If you hadn't cultivated, you'd probably be a high-ranking official or a great general in the mortal realm."

Cheng Xinzhan smiled and shook his head.

In fact, in his original plan, he intended to stay in Dianwen longer, thinking that he should at least meet with Renying and persuade him to join the Dao. Even the subjugation of Ailao Mountain was not done with the intervention of Lushan. He initially planned to launch a direct attack, and the original purpose of burying the earth sword was not as a token for delivering the item, but to stabilize the ley lines of Ailao Mountain so that it would not be destroyed in a direct attack.

However, during the first attack on Ailao Mountain, the swift intervention of the King of Wumeng and the presence of Zhong Yuanjue as an obstacle changed his mind.

Logically, with King Wumeng leaving the mountain, Shui Jingzi, a powerful cultivator of the fourth realm guarding southern Sichuan, should have immediately attacked Wumeng Mountain to force the tyrant to return. However, Shui Jingzi did not do so. And Zhong Yuanjue, the first of the Seven Immortals of Flying Truth to reach the fourth realm, upon discovering he was fighting with the demonic forces in Dianwen, didn't immediately offer help to eliminate the demons; instead, he chose to ambush and block his path.

This made Cheng Xinzhan feel that Emei's malice towards him was too great—even exceeding their demon-slaying ambitions. This was quite incomprehensible; even brothers fighting amongst themselves would unite against external threats. Emei was disregarding the conflict between good and evil, determined to kill him. This made him wary, realizing that he couldn't stay in Dianwen any longer. Based on the actions of Zhong Yuanjue and Shui Jingzi, he was forced to make an even more outrageous guess—would Emei and the Demonic Sect collude to kill him?

That's why he changed his mind about a direct assault on Ailao Mountain and temporarily abandoned his plan to secretly ascend Biji Mountain. He realized that if he made another grand appearance, it wouldn't just be Xiao Youshi and Zhong Yuanjue coming. Therefore, he thought of drawing in strong reinforcements and decided to make his move in Wuliang Mountain, directly cursing and killing Mu Longzhang.

Once the mission was accomplished, he neither looted the land nor showed off his power. He entrusted the Ailao Mountain to the Lushan Sect, and after taking the sleeping Mulong Staff and the Dragon Vine, he quietly left Dianwen and returned to Sanqing Mountain.

While the Yuyang front was also dangerous, the situation was quite different from that in Dianwen. There, the two armies clashed, and although the intensity of the battle was much higher than in Dianwen, at least their rear was safe. If they couldn't win, they could retreat to their own camp, and the possibility of being surrounded and killed was much smaller, which was more suitable for him now that his reputation was growing.

"This arrangement is good. Luofu Mountain is our ancestral home, and Shouren is also in Yuyang, so we can look out for each other. But don't rush to leave. Wait a few days, and go to Wufu Mountain to find Qu Zu first."

Ji Hehe said.

Cheng Xinzhan was somewhat puzzled upon hearing this. What did they want with Ancestor Qu? Wufu Mountain was originally a forbidden area of ​​the sect. Ever since the person guarding the ginseng fruit changed from Ancestor Tongxuan to Ancestor Qu, even fewer people could freely enter Wufu Mountain. Apart from the sect leader and himself, no one else was allowed to enter without an imperial decree. In fact, Cheng Xinzhan himself basically did not go in to disturb them. This was because Ancestor Qu had been in the world for many years and had come out of the cave to come into contact with the earth's energy. He could not be tainted by too much human energy, lest he be unable to suppress his ascension.

Ji Hehe noticed Cheng Xinzhan's confusion and explained,
"Master Qu will ascend to heaven soon. He sent me a message saying he wanted to talk to you before he left, so you could watch his ascension up close."

"what?"

Cheng Xinzhan was surprised. Was Qu Zu about to ascend to heaven?

Ji Hehe nodded.

"It did happen earlier than we expected. The ginseng fruit tree has too much earth energy, which has too great an impact on immortals who remain in the world. Ancestor Qu is already unable to suppress it. Alas."

At this point, Ji Hehe sighed.

"Our Sanqing Mountain reveres purity and has no tradition of attaining the status of a terrestrial immortal. Except in very rare cases, when one's path is blocked or one's lifespan is nearing its end, we may consider achieving immortality through corpse liberation. Generally speaking, we seek to attain the status of a celestial immortal by merging with the Dao and understanding the secrets of heaven when we reach the fifth realm."

"Moreover, it's very unfortunate that there were originally two scattered immortals who failed to transcend the Heavenly Immortal Tribulation and remained in the world. However, one ascended to heaven after completing the tribulation a hundred years ago and the other died during the seventh scattered immortal tribulation, respectively. So there are no scattered immortals living in the mountains now. Those who remain in the cave are all Heavenly Immortals. But we just happen to have obtained a treasure of the ancestor of Earthly Immortals, which makes things difficult."

However, after saying this, Ji Hehe laughed at himself.
"Haha, I'm just being hypocritical after getting a good deal. This treasure of the Earth Immortal Ancestor is enough to make all the immortal sects fight tooth and nail if it were outside. But Xinzhan, you don't need to worry. After Ancestor Qu ascends to heaven, another immortal will come out of the cave to continue guarding the immortal tree."

"Actually, I'll be close too. I probably won't be able to wait until you refine the Corpse-Dissolving Pill. When that happens, I'll pass the Immortal Tribulation and choose to enter the Cave Heaven to remain in this world. After all the seniors ascend, I'll come out to continue guarding the Immortal Tree. As for what comes after that, Shouzhen and Marshal Kui will definitely become Celestial Immortals by cultivating the Thunder Path. Fortunately, Tongxuan has already made it clear that he wants to become an Earth Immortal. Duyi is still considering it. If one of them succeeds, then when there's an Earth Immortal guarding the Ginseng Fruit in the future, we won't have to switch so frequently."

Cheng Xinzhan listened and then said,

"Sect Leader, everyone has their own ambitions. If the Ancestor and Sect Leader Su aspire to become Celestial Immortals, there's no need to make them change their minds. There are still immortals in the grotto-heaven, and you are also remaining in this world. By the time you come out to guard the Immortal Tree and are about to ascend, I estimate it will be about the same."

Ji Hehe was taken aback when he heard this, then realized what he meant, and his lips curled up into a smile. He couldn't stop smiling and stared at Cheng Xinzhan, laughing heartily.

Although he didn't spell it out explicitly, how could he not understand? Qu Zu emerged from the grotto-heaven in the 432nd year of the Ming Dynasty, and now the 472nd year is almost over, meaning he's guarded the Immortal Tree for a full forty years. Xin Zhan didn't know how many immortals remained in the grotto-heaven, nor did he ask. So he could only assume at least one, adding himself to the count, making at least two. If both were estimated at forty years, then even the celestial immortals guarding the tree, at the very least, could guard it for another eighty years. His statement that no one else needed to be certified as an earth immortal, only that they wait for him, was quite clear:

This youngest Wanfa Jingshi in the history of Sanqing Mountain is destined to become an Earth Immortal within the next eighty years!
This child has always been humble and proper since he began his cultivation, yet today he uttered such a bold statement in such a calm tone. If someone else had said such a thing, it would have been ridiculed, but coming from him, it sounded so natural.

Ji Hehe clapped his hands and laughed heartily, only calming down after a long while. He said,
"Alright, alright. If I can see you attain the Earth Immortal realm before I ascend, then I will truly have no regrets in this mortal world. Don't worry, I would never do anything to make someone change their path. Tongxuan only came up with the idea of ​​attaining the Earth Immortal realm after he went out to establish the Ximing Sect. I guess it's related to the Yin Clan, and he also wanted to take better care of the newly established sect. I didn't interfere with Duyi either. The reason she wanted to attain the Earth Immortal realm was because the situation in the Immortal Realm was very unclear and had already affected the lower realm."

"Then what happened?"

Cheng Xinzhan asked repeatedly.

Ji Hehe did not answer, but instead waved his sleeve and said,
"Go, go find Qu Zu, Qu Zu will tell you."

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(End of this chapter)