Shushan Earthly Immortal

Chapter 415 Lotus Seed Pod Spirit, Lion Takes a Nap

Mount Luofu, Lotus Cave Heaven.

As Cheng Xinzhan, who was observing lotuses in June, stood up, he realized that the embryonic life force in his Crimson Palace had undergone tremendous changes.

The slender, curved "dragon bow" has become much thicker. This time, it has not grown longer, but has instead grown horizontally, making it look robust and plump, round and bulging.

The embryonic life form now appears top-heavy, with a huge top that tapers towards the bottom, resembling an inverted cone. On the embryonic life form's enormous head, seven orifices can be clearly seen, two of which contain two black lotus-seed-like objects.

Further down, at the neck of the embryo, you can see a ring of wavy folds that are slowly rising and falling, looking as if they are breathing.

Thus, the entire embryonic form resembled a lotus seedpod growing on a cloud bed, thick at the top and narrow at the bottom, with lotus holes, lotus seeds, and natural folds. However, upon closer inspection, this lotus seedpod also resembled an infant, like a large-headed doll, with its seven holes being its seven orifices, and the two black lotus seeds clearly resembling its eyeballs. As for the folds on its neck, they were clearly gill arch folds, extremely lifelike.

The entire embryo is light pink, but there is a light ochre yellow layer on the surface, which looks warm and delicate, like a piece of warm jade, giving people a sense of vitality.

This is the change in the third stage of the embryonic development, the "lotus pod".

At this point, the embryonic life form finally took on a slight human shape.

Cheng Xinzhan was very satisfied with the appearance of his life embryo, which was worthwhile after observing ten thousand lotus plants and spending half a year. However, at this time, he had no intention of leaving the cave. Because the next stage of the life embryo was "lotus spirit", which was also in the form of a lotus plant, so naturally he would have to complete the embryonic transformation and advancement here.

The embryo undergoes nine transformations, each of which is significant and contains profound potential.

"Flesh buds" are the condensation of essence and energy, bestowing life; "dragon bows" represent vigorous growth, bestowing strength; and "lotus pods" signify the initial formation of a human form, bestowing shape. Furthermore, the initial development of the five senses, seven orifices, gills, and neck folds in the "lotus pods" marks the beginning of the embryo's perception of the outside world, transforming it from a solitary life developing alone into a part of the entire universe—a crucial step in its transformation.

In the next step, the "lotus spirit" will not only take on a human form, but more importantly, the embryo will undergo the evolution of its meridians, beginning to evolve internally and acquiring the ability to control the flow of Qi.

Therefore, from this perspective, the gradual evolution of the nine transformations of the embryonic stage is actually a re-understanding of the physical body and life essence by the practitioner. Moreover, it is an observation and understanding from the perspective of an observer. Carefully grasping this process is a second cultivation of the life essence realm.

Many people don't understand this principle. They think that they have already experienced this life evolution when they were in the womb, and they have cultivated it again in the second stage. They think they understand it very well, so they keep accelerating the process of change when they are in the womb, wanting to form a fetus as soon as possible and master the power of the four stages.

This is of course a big mistake. The physical body, the life essence, and the spiritual infant are actually three different perspectives and dimensions for understanding the wonderful and mysterious treasures of the physical body. Only by truly understanding and comprehending them can one appreciate why all kinds of beings and spirits must take human form and why only the human form is hailed as the innate Dao body and sacred embryo.

That's why, no matter how anxious Cheng Xinzhan was, he never rushed to skip the embryonic transformation. That's why he was able to take time out of this tense period to devote himself to secluded cultivation in the cave. During this time, he cultivated at both the second and fourth realms simultaneously, verifying each other's progress.

However, just as the "lotus pod" was taking shape, the embryo suddenly trembled. Although this unusual movement was fleeting, Cheng Xinzhan still managed to detect it.

Fetal movement?

Cheng Xinzhan frowned, secretly puzzled.

The deeper one's spiritual cultivation, the more acute one's perception of changes in the world and one's own safety becomes. For example, sudden eyelid twitching, a sudden urge, or restlessness are all signs of something. Fetal movement also counts.

However, what danger could I possibly be in Lotus Cave Heaven? Is the sky going to collapse?

The sky collapsing is impossible; it means someone outside the cave is plotting against me.

Moreover, this action should have been very subtle. If it hadn't happened to coincide with the moment when the "lotus seedpod" established a connection with the outside world and was at its most sensitive, it might not have been noticed.

Cheng Xinzhan became wary, but he didn't feel too much of a sense of unease. He understood very well that given his current position, identity, status, and strength, it was normal for someone to want to harm him. In other words, there should be someone thinking about how to get rid of him all the time; it would be strange if there weren't.

Southern School? Northern School? Overseas? Xuanmen? Dragon and Tiger?

Curse? Voodoo? Ambush? Surround and kill? Ambush?
It seems both are possible.

Judging from the warning from the natal chart, the person who is about to take action this time is probably quite well-prepared and well-hidden.

However, although this person was well-prepared, his luck was not so good, and he happened to stumble upon me preparing for a long period of seclusion in the grotto-world. Heh, then let him wait!

Just as Cheng Xinzhan was about to continue observing the lotus, a thought suddenly flashed through his mind: surely the person who wanted to harm him wouldn't be able to enter the Lotus Cave to make a move?

It shouldn't be that bad.

Cheng Xinzhan shook his head. If that person had such abilities, even Mount Luofu might not be able to be saved.

However, after thinking about it, he remembered the word "cautious" and felt it was better to be cautious. So, he looked around, as if searching for something, and soon his gaze fixed on a fiery red lotus pond.

He walked over to the edge of the pond and squatted down. Looking around but seeing no one, he silently conjured a crimson fire lotus and placed a primordial spirit within it. He placed the fire lotus in the pond, where it floated on the water, almost indistinguishable from the other lotuses.

He then left that spot and walked to another lotus pond not far away, where he sat down again.

Another wisp of his primordial spirit leaped from between his brows and landed in the lotus flower before him. The golden primordial spirit disappeared into the lotus pod, descending along the lotus stem to the lotus root at the bottom of the pond.

He began to contemplate the Daoist principles of lotus roots.

And so, one day, two days, ten days... time passed like flowing water. He wandered in the Lotus Cave, stopping and starting, sitting and rising, his primordial spirit leaving his body time and time again, contemplating one lotus root Daoist charm after another. In his Crimson Palace, his life embryo was changing again, evolving from the inside out into a higher, more profound, and more anthropomorphic form.

Apart from that, there had been no unusual activity in Lotus Cave, which reassured Cheng Xinzhan somewhat.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The lotus flowers in the grotto bloom and wither, flourish and fade, and in the blink of an eye, another half year has passed.

"Dong dong!"

"Dong dong!"

A thunderous heartbeat echoed within the Lotus Cave Heaven.

Cheng Xinzhan was startled awake by the loud sound. He opened his eyes, and a smile appeared on his lips. He was already very familiar with this sound; it was the sound of a fetal embryo. Someone in the Lotus Cave Heaven was currently undergoing the process of forming an embryo and breaking through to a higher realm.

As for who it was, it was easy to guess; it could only be Xu Shiren, the Vice Master who led him into the cave. He didn't know when Xu Shiren had entered the cave for seclusion.

Cheng Xinzhan was slightly surprised, because he was currently in the embryonic stage and therefore quite sensitive to the harmonious flow of vital energy. In his view, when he first met this Master Xu last year, this vice master should still be in the middle stage of embryonic transformation, not much higher than himself. Now, only a year has passed, and he should still be barely at the "life embryo" stage, but the fact is that he has now formed an embryo under divine illumination.

Such a situation could be due to either a stroke of luck in acquiring extraordinary rare and precious materials, or Xu Shiren intentionally sacrificing some things and paying a price to accelerate the process.

Cheng Xinzhan leaned towards the latter. There aren't that many coincidences in the world, nor are there that many rare and precious materials for repairing a embryo that just happen to be delivered to one's doorstep. A major event like breaking through a cultivation realm must be planned carefully and thoughtfully. What surprised him was that Mount Luofu had a lineage spanning thousands of years, passed down by the Immortal Elder, so its orthodox disciples would certainly know that one absolutely cannot rush things while in the embryonic stage. Yet Xu Shiren still did it anyway.

Everyone has their own ambitions and hardships. Xu Shiren's willingness to pay a price to break through to a higher realm as soon as possible, while unexpected, is also understandable. Like Hong Changbao of Fuxia Lake, who risked his life and a dead end to enter the fourth realm, it wasn't that he didn't want to pursue perfection, but rather that he was forced by circumstances. Now, Xu Shiren has made a similar decision. His difficulties are probably not as urgent as Hong Changbao's, but he certainly has his reasons. Cheng Xinzhan understands this feeling, because sometimes, waiting and waiting, you don't know whether what you'll get is perfection or inner demons.

Moreover, since Xu Shiren has chosen to break through his cultivation level so quickly, it shouldn't be long before I find out the reason why he's so eager to do so.

The music played for twenty-eight days, then the grotto-heaven fell silent. Only the rustling of the wind blowing through the lotus flowers remained. Immediately afterward, a sudden gust of wind arose, spiritual energy howled, and all the lotus flowers bowed their heads in one direction.

"Congratulations to Master Xu on reaching the profound level!"

"Congratulations to Master Xu on reaching the profound level!"

"..."

Within the grotto-heaven, a sparse, clear sound of congratulations echoed, likely from the Luofu Mountain disciples who were in seclusion there. There weren't many people present, but each voice was loud, revealing their excitement. Indeed, at this time of year, on the front lines of the fight against demons, the addition of another fourth-realm expert would be invaluable.

Cheng Xinzhan, the only outsider, also stood up and stepped forward to offer his congratulations.

The fact that others choose to break through to the fourth realm within this grotto-heaven speaks volumes about its importance to the people of Luofu Mountain. He himself was sent here simply because he wanted to see the lotus flowers—this was an immense favor. Originally, Cheng Xinzhan planned to repay Luofu Mountain later, as offering a gift now would seem like a transaction and unnecessarily damage the relationship between the two families. Now, Xu Shiren's breakthrough presented a perfect opportunity; offering a congratulatory gift wouldn't seem deliberate.

"Congratulations to Master Xu on his attainment of enlightenment."

Cheng Xinzhan stepped forward, smiling and cupping his hands in congratulations.

Xu Shiren returned the greeting and said,

"Thank you, sir."

Cheng Xinzhan took out something and handed it to Xu Shiren.
"Master Xu, on the day I recaptured Cloud Ladder Mountain, after ascending the mountain, I intercepted and killed some fleeing dragons, took their inner cores, and refined them into a string of beads. I have completely removed the impurities and demonic energy from this precious dragon bead. The string of beads is hard and has the ability to control water. It may not be particularly spiritual, but it is naturally beautiful and suitable for everyday wear. I present this to Master Xu to celebrate your attainment of enlightenment. I hope you will not find it offensive."

He opened his palm, revealing a string of sixteen beads. The beads were of various colors, each perfectly round and glistening with a watery sheen. Just as Cheng Xinzhan had said, putting aside the power for the moment, their very appearance alone suggested they were quite valuable.

Upon seeing this, Xu Shiren waved his hand repeatedly.

"Sir, this is not appropriate, it is too much of a gift."

Cheng Xinzhan ignored this, took Xu Shiren's hand, stuffed the beaded string into it, and laughed.
"Don't mind that it's simple."

Then, he cupped his hands in farewell and said,
"Master Xu, you must have many things to attend to while you are studying the mysteries. Although I have gained a lot from observing the lotus, it is not over yet, so I will not bother you any longer."

Having said that, he drifted away, disappearing into the lotus bushes and quickly vanishing without a trace.

Xu Shiren watched the Taoist priest drift away, inwardly praising Cheng Xinzhan as a gentleman. But just as Cheng Xinzhan had said, he was currently engaged in profound meditation and had too many urgent matters to attend to, so he couldn't afford to be polite. He put away the beaded string and stepped out of the grotto.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Another six months passed, and it was summer of the 474th year of the Ming Dynasty.

Cheng Xinzhan stood up again and withdrew his primordial spirit. However, this time, he did not change the location to continue observing the lotus. Instead, he walked straight to a crimson lotus pond, withdrew the fire lotus, and then walked back to the original white lotus pond.

He took out a lotus-shaped jade pendant and snapped it with his fingers.

After waiting for about fifteen minutes, Cheng Xinzhan saw Xu Shiren's figure suddenly appear before him without any warning or trace of spatial fluctuations; he just appeared abruptly.

"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting, sir."

Xu Shiren smiled and apologized upon meeting him.

Cheng Xinzhan keenly noticed a significant change in Xu Shiren's demeanor and spirit. Previously, the Taoist priest always carried an air of unyielding melancholy between his brows, but now it had completely vanished. Moreover, due to entering the Fourth Realm, his lifespan had greatly increased, making him appear several years younger.

It seems that the knot he was eager to break through in the fourth realm has already been untied by him after he reached the fourth realm.

"Not long, not long, I'll trouble you, Master Xu, to make the trip."

"You're too kind, sir. Please."

After Xu Shiren finished speaking, he led the way, with Cheng Xinzhan following closely behind. Sure enough, the way out of the cave was different this time.

"Master Xu, once I leave the cave, I will immediately depart from Mount Luofu. You don't need to see me off."

Cheng Xinzhan said.

Xu Shiren slowed his pace and said in a deep voice,

"What happened?"

"I can't say for sure. I have a feeling that some evil spirits are plotting something. But whatever they are plotting, I can't stay in Luofu Mountain for long."

Xu Shiren frowned. It wasn't that he suspected Cheng Xinzhan of being paranoid; with his current cultivation level, he naturally understood that intuition. He just felt that Cheng Xinzhan's words were too distant.

"Why do you say such things, sir? If there is any danger, you should stay in Mount Luofu, or even leave Lotus Cave."

Xu Shiren stopped in his tracks.

Cheng Xinzhan smiled upon hearing this.
"It's just the work of a petty person; why should I avoid him? Master Xu will surely understand this."

Upon hearing this, Xu Shiren was first taken aback, then burst into laughter.

"Then so be it, sir."

So he took another step and led Cheng Xinzhan out.

After taking only a few steps, Cheng Xinzhan saw a cloud of smoke rising in front of him. The smoke grew thicker as he walked, then gradually thinned out. Gradually, the outline of Chongxu Temple reappeared before him. Cheng Xinzhan knew that he had returned to White Lotus Lake.

He bowed to Xu Shiren, then vanished like the wind, quickly passing through halls and courtyards to arrive at the gate of the Taoist temple. The lion was lying there, fast asleep. Not far away, several Taoist boys hid behind the artificial hill and the archway, curiously watching the lion.

"gone."

Cheng Xinzhan sat on the lion's back.

The lion instinctively felt clouds rise from his feet, his body soaring into the air, but his eyes weren't fully open yet. He yawned and said sleepily,
"Didn't the master say he wanted to stay a little longer? How come he came out after just a short nap?"

Cheng Xinzhan smiled upon hearing this and said,
"At this time of year, a nap is enough."

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(End of this chapter)