Lingyuan Immortal

Chapter 896 The Tide Has Arrived, the Road Ahead Is Within Reach
"Externally, one cultivates the Dao traces as if embracing the Milky Way; internally, one guards the true self as firmly as Kunlun Mountain."

As the steps of Fuyuan Mountain meandered down, Chen Mu walked slowly with his hands behind his back, his brows slightly furrowed, as if deep in thought.

The mountain mist swept over the jade steps, making his dark Taoist robe appear even more somber.

How vast is the vision of an immortal lord? He can reveal the mysteries of a realm in just a few words.

When he first stepped into the Floating Cloud Realm, he saw that this realm was born with traces of the laws of heaven and earth. He thought that this was a place where heaven and earth were blessed. If he cultivated here for a long time, wouldn't he save countless hardships?
Now I realize how wrong I was.

Is the existence of such laws and traces in the world truly a blessing or a curse for cultivators of this realm?

That's not entirely true...

A mountain wind suddenly arose, scattering the clouds and mist.

Chen Mu stopped and gazed at the surging sea of ​​clouds. He suddenly realized how similar the cultivators of this world were to these flowing clouds. They seemed to roam freely between heaven and earth, but in reality, they were trapped by the ever-changing winds for their entire lives.

For example, the Dao Fruit that the Nascent Soul stage in the Tai Xuan Realm must attain has become the benchmark for testing the aptitude of a True Immortal here.

Why has the Dao Fruit become a testing ground for immortal talents in this world?

Ultimately, it is due to the traces of the Dao of Heaven and Earth...

Therefore, the Dao traces allow cultivators in this realm to rise rapidly even without attaining the Dao fruit.

Over time, thousands of years, the cultivators of this world gradually strayed from the right path, actually regarding borrowing the power of heaven and earth as the proper way to cultivate.

But if a cultivator doesn't even understand his own path, how can he possibly achieve the status of a true immortal?

"Ask the Way, ask the Way..."

Chen Mu gently stroked the jade pendant at his waist, the warm, smooth touch seeping into his palm.

"This realm of seeking the Dao is not about questioning the Dao of Heaven and Earth, but about questioning one's own Dao..."

Heaven and earth are the furnace, and creation is the craftsman. If one wishes to reach the realm of true immortality, one must ultimately forge one's own furnace of true fire.

And this was the purpose of Fu Yuanzi's admonition to him.

Or rather, Fu Yuanzi would give this advice to every one of his disciples...

The sea of ​​clouds must not disperse, for the rising sun will pierce the sky.

Others might hesitate and be afraid of making a mistake, but Chen Mu was confident that he wouldn't.

He had already attained enlightenment, and his mind was as clear as a mirror. How could it be changed by external things?
With this thought in mind, he felt at ease, his steps suddenly became lighter, and he walked towards Qingping.

The distant mountains were verdant and dark, and the drifting clouds rolled in. The Taoist priest strode forward, dispelling much of the mist and dust...

Before long, the sound of pine trees rustling outside Qingping Cave began to rise.

Chen Mu stopped abruptly, raising his eyes to look at the gnarled branches of the ancient pine tree on the cliff.

The branches trembled slightly, and the frosty feathers reflected the misty mountain stream. A white crane was tapping the pine scales with its golden claws.

Noticing the gaze, the crane turned its head and looked over, its glassy pupils sparkling with lively intelligence.

"Master Chen!"

Before the clear sound faded, the crane's shadow had already transformed into soft light and fallen to the ground.

As the smoke dissipated, the ice scale ornaments on the girl's ears jingled softly; they were the spirit pet of Murong Xi, named Xuxu.

After spending more than a month together, Chen Mu and Murong Xi had become quite familiar with each other.

Chen Mu smiled slightly and asked, "Fellow Daoist He, why are you waiting here? Senior Sister must have already arrived at the cave."

He thought the other party was unaware that Murong Xi had left early to return home.

"I know."

Xuxu replied and took out a jade slip from her sleeve: "My master sent me to deliver something to you."

"Oh?"

Chen Mu was somewhat surprised and took the jade slip, gazing at it intently.

Xuxu continued, "Master specifically instructed that he left in a hurry and forgot to prepare the breakthrough tips and the secrets to knocking on the gate for his junior brother, which is why he sent me on this extra trip."

Chen Mu nodded and solemnly accepted the gift, saying, "Please tell Senior Sister that I am deeply grateful for this token of my appreciation."

Although he had already achieved perfect cultivation and attained the Dao Fruit, and was in harmony with the Dao Mark, making a breakthrough not difficult, he was still grateful for this sentiment, not to mention the tips on unlocking the Mysterious Gate, which were exactly what he needed.

"Furthermore, the master said that this seclusion would only last a moment, and he would definitely break through the realm before the True Person. Therefore, he bid farewell to the True Person in advance and prepared to travel to Xuandu after he came out of seclusion."

"Xuan Du?"

Chen Mu nodded slowly. Xuan Du was not particularly powerful, and there were many different sects within its territory, making it a good place to travel.

Xuxu nodded and said, "Master also said that if True Person Chen wants to travel after he comes out of seclusion, he can go to Xuandu to find my master..."

The girl was a little embarrassed. She still clearly remembered the expression and tone of her master's voice when he asked her to deliver the message: "Go to Xuandu. Xuandu is the farthest from Yundu. It seems that the Xue family will have difficulty planning to find a son-in-law..."

Chen Mu, unaware of the reason, smiled and replied, "The Taiyin Si Clan also invited me. If I have any travel ideas, I will inevitably go to Xuandu."

Upon hearing this, Xuxu breathed a sigh of relief, bowed deeply, and said, "Since that's the case, then I will reply now. The True Master is about to go into seclusion. I wish the True Master all his wishes come true and that he achieves great success in the Great Dao..."

After speaking, his body suddenly exploded into a shower of crane feathers. As the breeze dispersed the white feathers, only a silver ray could be seen on the horizon, streaking towards the depths of the sea of ​​clouds.

The sound of pine trees rustling through the empty mountains brought a moment of silence to the area.

Chen Mu gazed into the distance. The green mountains remained unchanged, with flowing clouds swirling around them. The sound of woodcutters chopping bamboo on the back mountain could be heard intermittently, as his senior brother Qingshan was also cultivating day after day.

"The path to enlightenment is long and arduous; the pursuit of truth is truly joyful..."

He murmured something, then flicked his sleeve and stepped into the cave. The door to the Azure Screen Cave slammed shut, and once closed, it remained closed for many years...

Of course, that's a story for later. Chen Mu, who had just entered the cave, did not rush to take out the Dao traces to refine them. Instead, he sat down and meditated for three days.

It's true that his cultivation has reached perfection, but if he wants to truly break through, he still needs to find an opportunity to transform his nascent soul...

On the third day at the hour of Yin in Qingping Cave, auspicious purple clouds appeared in the east.

Chen Mu sat cross-legged on the jade bed, surrounded by a three-zhang-long aura of pure energy.

At this moment, a sound like the rising tide suddenly arose from the dantian, like the spring river overflowing the stone steps.

He visualized the "Tide Visualization Diagram" recorded in the "Taiyin Yuepo Chaosheng Zhuanjing" and saw a three-inch nascent soul hanging deep in the Purple Palace, its body clear and bright, like a glass cup filled with water.

"When the tide is full, it overflows..."

Chen Mu chanted the incantation for an unknown amount of time, and finally, his nascent soul's brow suddenly lit up.

The next moment, countless water ripples were reflected on the four walls of the cave. It was clearly a sealed stone chamber, yet it felt as if a sea breeze was blowing in your face.

The nascent soul formed the Kan Water Seal on its palms, and jade-colored bone patterns were growing on each finger joint, a sign that it was about to undergo a transformation!
About a month later, a soft "crack" suddenly came from the quiet cave. Thanks to its profound foundation and solid roots, everything fell into place naturally, and the Nascent Soul Heavenly Spirit cracked open.

Chen Mu was not surprised but delighted, knowing that this was the first step in breaking free from the cocoon and becoming a god.

He steadied his mind and changed his hand gestures in quick succession. Under his guidance, silvery-white mist surged from the cracks and enveloped the nascent soul in a cocoon in an instant.

Meanwhile, the spiritual energy outside the cave grew increasingly restless, and the clouds within a hundred miles hung upside down like a funnel, pouring into the Qingping Mountain...

Within the vast Fuyuan Cave Heaven, Fuyuanzi was still refining elixirs, occasionally releasing wisps of immortal energy that caused the small courtyard atop the mountain to be enveloped in purple mist, resembling a fairyland. Perhaps sensing something, Fuyuanzi glanced back amidst his busy work, his eyes reflecting a half-moon reflected in the water, and he couldn't help but nod and chuckle, "The tide has arrived, the path to enlightenment is within reach..."

Meanwhile, from the direction of the back mountain, the rhythmic sound of woodcutters' axes also paused for a half-beat before resuming. Unless one had a keen sense of perception, one would likely not have noticed this subtle pause at all...

The seasons change, warm springs and cold winters come and go, and three years have passed in the blink of an eye.

On this day, the summer wind was scorching, the distant sky was blazing, and ripples rose again within the Qingping Cave.

A gushing spring sounded, and the sound of the cocoon peeling off was like shattered jade falling to the ground.

Chen Mu shuddered, his eyes snapped open, and a divine aura inexplicably arose. Upon closer inspection, it turned out that his primordial spirit had leaped out from the top of his head.

The newly born primordial spirit was entirely azure blue, and although it was only five inches in size at the moment, its features were exactly the same as Chen Mu's.

The most peculiar thing is that the primordial spirit is standing on two water wheels, which upon closer inspection are actually formed from the primordial water.

It is neither the innate Ren water nor the tide, but rather the spiritual source of pure water that has long been the foundation of one's destiny.

Chen Mu suddenly understood; it seemed the rumors were true. The "Taiyin Moon Soul Tide Scripture" was not a legitimate water-based mystical art; it contained many elements of the Taiyin Way...

"If there is an opportunity in the future, we should return to the source."

Chen Mu muttered to himself, this was indeed unexpected.

However, there's no rush. After all, we're still far from becoming true immortals, so this can be used as a transitional form of cultivation...

Chen Mu regained his composure and took out the Dao Mark that matched his Dao.

The moment the water droplet appeared, the entire cave was instantly filled with surging water vapor, nourishing everything.

Then Ze Ding also manifested, hanging above the primordial spirit's head. The water patterns engraved on the cauldron lit up one by one, drawing water droplets into the cauldron.

Chen Mu took a deep breath, knowing that the most important moment was about to arrive.

As soon as the water droplets entered the cauldron, under the influence of the primordial spirit, they suddenly transformed into nine tributaries, like small dragons that shed some traces of heaven and earth with each circling motion.

After forty-nine rotations, the water droplet becomes a pure, transparent color, free of any impurities, containing only the essence of water.

A glint flashed in Chen Mu's eyes as he controlled his primordial spirit to open its mouth and swallow the water droplet.

In an instant, his meridians surged with the sound of rushing rivers, and his Purple Mansion expanded more than three times its original size. The original lotus pond transformed into a vast water mansion, shimmering with spiritual light as the tides rose and fell.

The Daoist essence gradually merged into Chen Mu's primordial spirit, and the spiritual energy accumulated outside the cave transformed into a light drizzle. The raindrops fell to the ground and formed beads, each one reflecting the illusory image of Chen Mu's primordial spirit...

The drizzle continued, but time never stopped.

Four years, five years, six years...

Ten years after Chen Mu went into seclusion, the raindrops falling from Qingping Cave still hung on the green moss, but the sky in the direction of Yunming was the first to ripple.

Suddenly, the sky split open, revealing a thousand-mile-long rift between water and clouds. Above the secluded stone chamber, nine layers of azure-colored mist rose up. Accompanied by the cry of a crane, Xu Xu was the first to fly out, surrounded by clouds and rain, soaring freely across the sky.

A moment later, Murong Xi emerged from the Yunming Cave, each step she took emitting emerald light that stretched for hundreds of feet.

Only when they reached the edge of the cliff did the hundred-foot-long emerald light soar into the sky, condensing into a three-foot-long green sword. In an instant, thousands of sword shadows fell like petals, stirring up the sea of ​​clouds into a boiling turmoil.

If they weren't inside the barrier of Fuyuan Cave Heaven, such a soaring sword intent would likely have alarmed the cultivators of the Thirty-Six Palaces of Azure Tide.

Beneath the ancient pine tree on the back mountain, Daoist Qingshan brushed the dampness from his clothes and chuckled as he looked at the distant clouds and water, "Breaking through two profound barriers in a row, Junior Sister Murong has truly accumulated a wealth of knowledge and experience."

At this moment, the sound of golden jade chimes striking came from the top of Fuyuan Mountain. Murong Xi straightened her expression and beckoned a spirit crane with her fair hand, and she soared up with the clouds.

When they arrived at the small courtyard on the mountaintop, they found that their master was already waiting there.

Fu Yuanzi didn't say much. A gilded talisman flew out from his sleeve, turning into starlight and entering her brow.

"The Nine Capitals and Four Realms of the Floating Cloud Realm appear peaceful on the surface, but dangers still lurk beneath the surface. When you enter the world this time, you should conceal three parts of your sharpness and observe seven parts of people's hearts..."

Murong Xi didn't ask what the talisman was, but just smiled and said, "Does Master still treat me like a child? I am now a True Monarch who has broken through four levels of barriers, so I am not afraid of demons and monsters."

Despite her unrestrained words, she still performed the three bows and nine kowtows ceremony in a proper manner.

"Master, please rest assured. When I return from traversing the Nine Capitals, I will bring with me the aura of having broken through the Nine Heavens, and then I will ask you for guidance on the mysteries of the Hundred Lifetimes of Reincarnation..."

Upon hearing this, Fu Yuanzi shook his head and sighed with a smile, but did not interfere further. With a wave of his hand, his figure gradually disappeared into the purple mist.

Murong Xi understood and took her leave. After returning to her cave to tidy up, she rode a crane and flew away.

Just as I was about to leave the cave, I suddenly looked back and saw that the drizzle was still lingering in the direction of Qingping Peak, and the moss on the stone gate under the eaves was covered with carvings.

A slight smile curved her lips as the crane's silhouette pierced through the water-like barrier, leaving only a few feathers slowly sinking in the rain...

Flowers bloom and fade, flowers fade and bloom, through countless seasons.

Among the Thousand Flame Palaces, the glazed golden roof of the Heavenly Pool Hall reflects the flowing clouds.

A beam of light flashed past, and a figure appeared in front of the hall.

This person carried a bronze sword box on his back, with a cold and murderous aura. His Nascent Soul aura was extremely powerful, and if a low-level disciple saw him, he would definitely be terrified.

However, the young Taoist boy guarding the hall seemed quite familiar with him. Upon seeing him, he showed no fear but instead greeted him with a smile.

"I wondered why the magpies were chirping at the gate today; it turns out that Immortal Master Li is coming..."

Hearing this witty remark, even though Li Bing was feeling annoyed, he couldn't help but laugh out loud and said with a laugh, "What a wild monkey running amok in front of the Lingguan Hall! Junior Brother Liu has spoiled you so much that you've become even more unruly."

Upon hearing the other party mention the temple master, the young Taoist shrank back and hurriedly bowed, smiling, "I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare."

"Is Junior Brother Liu here?" Li Bing stopped joking and asked about serious matters.

The young Taoist boy stepped aside to lead him: "Immortal Li's arrival is just in time. My master has just returned from the True Lord's place."

Upon hearing this, Li Bing sighed again.

Back then, Junior Brother Liu was only at the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm, a whole level higher than him. But now, Junior Brother Liu has already achieved the Nascent Soul stage and is now receiving guidance from True Monarch He Yan. Perhaps when he comes again next time, Junior Brother Liu will have already surpassed him...

But what can be done about it? Who told me I didn't have a true lord as my father? Even my only master passed away a month ago.

He still remembers his master's appearance before his death, weeping bitterly for having been too busy enjoying himself in his early years and failing to seize the opportunity, which led to the end of his spiritual journey, leaving him only to place his hopes on reincarnation.

He didn't want to end up like his master, who failed to seize the opportunity; he couldn't afford to miss it...

While they were pondering, the two walked several hundred steps and turned past the vermilion pillars. There, in the roofless courtyard ahead, a young man in a crimson robe was teasing a golden-eyed fire lion with an embroidered ball in his hand.

"Palace Master," the young Taoist called out softly.

Liu Tianchi turned around and saw Li Bing bowing in greeting.

He immediately smiled and greeted him, "Senior Brother Li, what brings you here at this hour?"

Flaming patterns flickered on his body with each step, and he instructed the young Taoist beside him, "Quickly fetch the Azure Jade Ice Soul Cup that I buried in the Fire Spirit Vein. Today, I must drink three rounds of wine with my senior brother!"

He probably knew that Li Bing had recently lost his teacher, so he wanted to take this opportunity to drown his sorrows with him over drinks.

Li Bing did not refuse, but as he watched the young Taoist boy's hurried departure, he felt the sword case on his shoulder weigh as heavy as a thousand pounds...

……

(End of this chapter)