Lingyuan Immortal

Chapter 895 The Golden Jade Phoenix Token: The Path to Enlightenment

The eaves of the pavilion are surrounded by auspicious clouds.

Amidst the jade-carved railings, figures moved about. Chen Mu slowly rose, his gaze falling upon the figure in a blue robe approaching him.

The reason he opened his eyes was actually quite simple: the shipbuilding industry of the Xue family in Yundu was enormous, and there was also a major factor: the Xue family in Yundu possessed powerful spirit ships capable of traversing realms.

Although the Floating Cloud Realm is not under the jurisdiction of the Heavenly Court, Chen Mu has always been cautious and never entrusts his life to luck.

After all, the methods of true immortals are hard to fathom. Given time, the Heavenly Court may well be able to find the Qi of the innate Ren water.

Therefore, long before he joined Chaosheng Pavilion, he had already made preparations and secretly prepared an escape route.

If he hadn't met the Xue family's son, things would have been fine, but since the man had taken the initiative to come to him, he was happy to make his acquaintance.

Those interdimensional spirit ships engraved with ancient void patterns seemed to be a tailor-made escape route for him...

"Master Chen."

Before the jade table where starlight shimmered, Xue Qi, with his flowing sleeves billowing in the wind, arrived on a cloud. From three zhang away, he already offered the courtesy due to an equal: "Several years ago, the Eastern Capital was shrouded in the celestial phenomena of Mars. Seeing it today, I finally understand what the demeanor of a banished immortal truly means."

"You flatter me, Lord Xue. Please have a seat."

Chen Mu smiled politely and gestured for the visitor to sit down.

Luo Yunshen did not forget the man surnamed Wu, and took the opportunity to lead him to a side seat.

The glass tabletop reflected Murong Xi's slightly forward-leaning figure in the southeast corner. The usually straightforward Yunming Sword Master had her brows furrowed slightly, and her fingertips under her wide sleeves were unconsciously tapping the jade chime on the table.

Xue Qi caught a glimpse of this scene out of the corner of his eye, his mind racing, but he showed no sign of it on his face: "Sword Master Yunming... he shouldn't be going to stop us, right?"

He pondered to himself, then suppressed his distracting thoughts and began to discuss philosophy and enjoy tea with Chen Mu.

Chen Mu was happy to do so, and would occasionally reply with a few words, making the meeting extremely pleasant.

In truth, both of them had other plans in mind, but it wasn't appropriate to say them directly upon their first meeting, so they both left it at that...

Before long, in the distance, Daoist Muji and his fellow Daoists from the Taiyin Si clan seemed to be getting up to say goodbye.

Seeing this, Xue Qi, with great insight, turned and took his leave. Before leaving, he held up a gold-plated jade token in his palm. The token, which was wide at the top and narrow at the bottom, was decorated with the seven constellations. The ancient seal script character "Xue" in the center was actually cast from celestial silver sand.

"This is the Golden Jade Token of My Humble Abode."

Xue Qi lightly tapped the relief on the ship with his fingertip, and the patterns moved with the starlight. "Only distinguished guests may hold it."

Before Chen Mu could speak, the cultivator surnamed Wu clapped his hands in admiration and said at the opportune moment, "The last person to receive such an order was that True Monarch from the Northern Sea who attained the Dao Fruit. Brother Xue's gesture is truly..."

"Oh?"

Chen Mu smiled and bowed, saying, "I have only just met you, True Lord. How could I accept such a gift from you?"

"Hahaha!"

Xue Qi laughed loudly: "To have made such a good friend is a blessing indeed. I, Xue, have always loved making friends with wonderful people. Master Chen, please do not refuse and accept this gift quickly."

Chen Mu then accepted it: "Since Brother Xue says so, then I thank you."

Although he didn't know the specific powers granted by the Golden Jade Token, he could tell from the burning desire in Xuan Ye and the others' eyes that the token's significance was definitely not insignificant.

He had always intended to befriend the Xue family, and this was a perfect opportunity to accept their help.

Seeing him accept the token, Xue Qi smiled broadly and said, "If True Man Chen has some free time, you might as well come to Yundu to see the new Wave-Breaking Divine Ship that my Xue family has forged."

After speaking, Xue and Wu nodded and left, their wide sleeves fluttering as the roar of a cloud boat could be heard.

Chen Mu's face remained unchanged, but he couldn't help but smile inwardly.

He gripped the communication jade talisman at his waist with his right hand, and several new marks were added to it.

The moon pattern of the Taiyin Si clan, the Xiezhi seal of the Qing Dynasty Imperial Censor, the Zhou Tian Diagram of the Xing Shu Palace, and finally the Golden Jade Token...

During his short trip to the Dragon Fishing Feast, he gained nothing else, but these badges, which are rarely seen in ordinary times, came one after another like invitations from the mortal world...

The gilded and jade-inlaid token swirled with cloud patterns in Chen Mu's palm, reflecting the mischievous smiles in the eyes of his fellow disciples.

Chen Mu's heart stirred slightly, and he asked frankly, "What do you mean by this, fellow Daoists?"

Seeing his puzzled look, everyone suddenly smiled in understanding.

"Master Chen is unaware of this."

Xuan Ye Zhenjun tapped the table with his knuckles and explained, "The Xue family of Yundu is renowned and loves to recruit talented men from all over the world. Whenever they take a fancy to someone, they will give him this gold and jade token."

"Over time, people have come to call it the 'Phoenix and Luan Token,' because for over a thousand years, eight or nine out of ten who held this token had formed a marriage alliance with the Xue family..."

Chen Mu frowned, looking at the token in his hand, and said, "Is this all there is to it?"

"That's not true..."

True Monarch Xuan Ye was taken aback: "However, isn't this enough? The Xue family of Yundu is the wealthiest in the world. If one could become a son-in-law of the Xue family, the resources and support one would receive would be completely different from those of one's own sect... True Monarch Chen, are you unwilling?"

Chen Mu smiled faintly: "I have my own clear path in mind, why should I need the help of others?"

True Lord Xuanye nodded slowly, a sense of admiration welling up in his heart, and said no more.

However, a weathered True Monarch named Sun Fu couldn't help but say, "Actually, the two complement each other and there is no contradiction between them. Why wouldn't the True Monarch do it?"

“Look at True Monarch He Yan of our sect. His Daoist partner is a member of a collateral branch of the Xue clan. Although the two of them made their decision based on love without considering many other factors, True Monarch He Yan was able to pass through the Nine Profound Gates and the Hundred Reincarnations in just a few hundred years. This was more or less due to the support of the Xue clan behind him.”

"This is just a member of a collateral branch of the clan. If he could become a Daoist partner with the legitimate daughter of the Xue family, it would be unimaginable..."

"Sun Zhenjun is mistaken..."

Murong Xi, after enduring for a long time, finally stood up: "How can you only see the benefits of such an important matter? Becoming a son-in-law of the Xue family may make your path smoother, but if the Xue family asks for something in the future, can you just ignore it?"

Sun Fu was speechless for a moment, but he smiled awkwardly on the surface and didn't think much of it in his heart.

How could he not know that Murong Xi's words made sense?

However, for someone like him, who lacked a good master and exceptional talent, climbing the ranks of the Xue family was the best possible path, and he was too lazy to worry about anything else.

However, he also knew that Chen Mu and Murong Xi were not on his side, so he remained silent to avoid offending them...

The room fell silent for a moment, just as Daoist Muji called out to break the deadlock. Everyone tacitly changed the subject and boarded the Azure Sky Spirit Boat, chatting and laughing.

At the end of the cloud-covered steps, Luo Yunshen stood respectfully watching them leave.

The moment the Azure Sky Spirit Boat swallowed and exhaled the clouds, seventy-two beams of azure light extended from the stern, piercing through the thick cloud barrier in one fell swoop, as if "descending to the mortal world"...

……

Before long, the Azure Spirit Boat, eager to return home, landed at the mountain gate.

Knowing their eagerness, Daoist Muji stroked his beard, smiled, and waved his sleeve, saying, "You may go on your own; I will go alone to report back."

Upon hearing this, everyone was overjoyed and quickly bowed, saying, "Thank you, Daoist Lord."

The rays of spiritual light scattered in all directions, and Chen Mu did not forget to nod to the Immortal Daoist.

"When we meet again, I hope that we will both have broken through to the realm of seeking the truth."

"Let us encourage each other, fellow Daoist!" The two exchanged a smile, then bowed and took their leave...

Although the trip was only a few days long, the frost was bone-chilling when we left, but the warmth was already upon our return.

After passing through the barrier of Fuyuan Cave, the two siblings slowed down and followed the winding stone path upwards. The mountain was newly covered with moss, and tender buds were peeking out from among the withered branches. Grayish brown and green were intermingled and blended in the mist.

Upon reaching the small courtyard atop the mountain, a subtle fragrance suddenly permeated my senses.

Chen Mu was still in a daze, but Murong Xi's eyes were already shifting as she looked at the potted plants on the eaves and sighed softly, "They have actually blossomed to this extent."

Chen Mu followed the gaze and saw seven layers of petals, like silk gauze, blooming in the jade basin. Each petal was as thin as a cicada's wing but contained hidden Dao patterns, and the stamens were exhaling visible spiritual mist.

He couldn't help but ask, "This flower, so naturally beautiful, what kind of celestial plant is it?"

Murong Xi lightly touched the dew on the flower with her fingertips, her smiling eyes curving into crescent moons: "This thing is called 'Three Pure Crimson Cloud Orchid,' and it takes a thousand years for it to bloom with seven layers of flowers... As for its use, it is closely related to my junior brother."

"I?"

Chen Mu was taken aback and was about to ask another question when he suddenly heard the clear sound of a golden chime coming from inside the room.

He then gave up and, together with his senior sister, straightened their clothes and went into the house.

Upon entering, one sees Fu Yuanzi with flowing sleeves, performing the Big Dipper ritual in front of the Eight Trigrams Furnace. Purple vapor rises from the furnace like dragons and snakes, as if he is refining something.

"Disciple pays homage to Master."

The two men did not act impolitely and stepped forward to bow respectfully.

"This Dragon Fishing Feast has certainly lived up to the reputation of Fuyuan Grotto-heaven..."

Before he finished speaking, Fu Yuanzi turned around and sat down to the side, picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip: "He has the style of the two brothers Qingwu and Cangwu back then."

Murong Xi had been a disciple for a long time, and her words and actions were quite natural. Upon hearing this, she smiled and said, "Since Master has praised you, why not reward me with something?"

Fu Yuanzi shook his head and smiled: "Let's refine the top-grade Dao trace you caught first."

Murong Xi feigned indignation: "Master is so biased. There are several Crimson Cloud Orchids in the courtyard, which should be enough to refine several bottles of Nine-Turn Profound Qi Pills. Why can't you share some with your disciples? Are you perhaps saving them all for Junior Brother Chen?"

Chen Mu's heart stirred slightly, recalling his senior sister's earlier teasing, and a guess began to form in his mind.

"The Nine-Turn Profound Qi Pill is only effective for those at the initial stage of the Profound Gate Realm. What are you fighting over for it?"

Fu Yuanzi knew that Murong Xi was joking, but he still considered her feelings and said, "Very well, after you have refined the Dao traces you obtained this time, it will be time for you to travel through the Nine Capitals and knock on the Xuan Gate..."

Murong Xi's eyes lit up suddenly; she hadn't expected such an unexpected surprise.

People often say that knocking on the gate of enlightenment is like breaking out of a cocoon; one must be tainted by the myriad threads of worldly life before one can wield the sword of wisdom and carve out the path to heaven.

Therefore, in the Floating Cloud Realm, the fastest way to break through the barrier is to travel through the Nine Capitals, actively get involved in karma, and then sever ties with it. By using the power of karma, one can break through the barrier and achieve the goal of breakthrough.

This method is highly regarded by most people. For example, Xue Qi, the son of the Xue family, traveled all over the world and gave away gold and jade tokens. Who knows if he was not creating karma with Chen Mu?

If Chen Mu truly takes this order and becomes Xue's Daoist partner, he can use it to break through a barrier, achieving a win-win situation for both his family and himself.

Murong Xi also advocated this method, but in recent years Fu Yuanzi has become conservative, fearing that his disciple would repeat the mistakes of his first and second disciples. Therefore, he has repeatedly refused and rejected this method of quickly gaining entry into the sect.

Murong Xi had thought she would have to wait quietly for karma to come knocking on her door like a withered skeleton in a tomb, but she never expected her master to change his mind...

Gazing at the gleam in his master's eyes, it was as if he were seeing the golden light of the rising sun reflected in the depths of a cold pool.

Such a scene of withered trees coming back to life, apart from that junior brother who came from beyond the heavens, who else could make Xuan Shuang turn into spring water?
Since taking Chen Mu under his wing, Master has been filled with fighting spirit again... which is truly gratifying.

She suddenly felt a lump in her throat; if she hadn't been worried about her junior brother Chen laughing at her, she might have already shed tears.

It's not surprising that she acted this way, since she had lived and cultivated under her master's tutelage since childhood. He was nominally her master, but in reality, he was like a father to her.

For hundreds of years, she had been observing the daily rituals of respecting her master, and had become accustomed to seeing him leaning against a cold chair, surrounded by icicles on the eaves. But now, seeing him looking as radiant as if he had been reborn, how could she not be moved?

Furthermore, one should not underestimate the power of willpower. After all, for a rogue immortal like Fu Yuanzi, without willpower, the next tribulation would be the day he perishes...

Seeing Murong Xi's eyes gradually redden, even Fu Yuanzi couldn't help but sigh.

He forced a smile: "What, are you so happy you've gone mad?"

Murong Xi then came to her senses, gave a soft snort, and turned to leave.

"Junior brother, your senior sister is going into seclusion now. I wish you success in your cultivation journey..."

Its figure gradually disappeared, leaving only a wisp of fragrance lingering in the air.

Fu Yuanzi shook his head and smiled again, then looked at Chen Mu and returned to the main topic: "Never mind her, Chen Mu, are you ready to go into seclusion and break through?"

Chen Mu's expression turned serious, and he nodded: "This disciple's cultivation has long been perfected. Now that I have achieved harmony with the Dao traces, it is time to seek a breakthrough."

"Alright, you can go into seclusion without worry."

Fu Yuanzi's fingertips brushed against the wisps of tea smoke on the table, gazing at the green leaves floating in the cup, and he said slowly:

"You manifested your Dao Fruit early on, and this is your first time refining a Dao Mark. There are no bottlenecks for you in the Dao Inquiry Realm, so I won't say anything more. I'll just tell you one thing..."

Chen Mu bowed with his hands clasped and listened attentively.

“External cultivation of Dao traces is like embracing the Milky Way, internal guarding of the true self is like solidifying Kunlun Mountain… Although the Dao traces in the three heavens are all the same laws and great paths, do not forget that you are walking your own path.”

Chen Mu was startled, and nodded thoughtfully: "Disciple will remember Master's admonition."

Seeing this, Fu Yuanzi smiled slightly, then changed his tone and said, "Compared to the bottleneck in the Dao, I actually care more about your initial stage of the Profound Gate."

"Your becoming my disciple is a matter of cause and effect. If you can use it properly, you can break through to the Dao Inquiry Realm at the same time..."

His eyes flashed, and he said in a deep voice, "Breaking through several profound barriers!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Mu's pupils shrank sharply; this was something he hadn't expected.

Throughout his spiritual practice, people have always said to lay a solid foundation and proceed step by step. How could there ever be such a continuous breakthrough?

However, he did not believe that Fu Yuanzi would deceive him. With his more than 20,000 years of experience, if he said so, it must be true and feasible.

At that moment, a thought struck him, and he looked at the Eight Trigrams Furnace swirling with purple energy: "The Nine-Turn Profound Qi Pill refined by Master..."

Fu Yuanzi nodded: "That's right. This pill, aided by cause and effect, first transforms into essence and blood, second transforms into spirit and soul, third transforms... When you reach the ninth transform, you will understand what it means to leverage power to break through barriers."

Chen Mu nodded slowly, trying to digest what his master had said.

"but……"

"But what?" Chen Mu asked instinctively.

Fu Yuanzi stroked his beard and smiled: "However, all of this is based on the premise that you successfully break through. You don't need to think too much about it now. Just go back and focus on your seclusion. After you break through, I will personally deliver this pill to you..."

With everything arranged perfectly, Chen Mu felt as if he had returned to the time when he was condensing Qi.

He took a deep breath and bowed again: "Disciple thanks Master for your guidance..."

……

(End of this chapter)