Lingyuan Immortal

Chapter 897 Flowers in the Mirror

Inside the hall, where incense smoke curled, the two sat facing each other.

Before the incense from the gilded crane-beak censer could even reach the beams, the young Taoist boy arrived gracefully, carrying a jade ice-soul cup.

The nectar in the cup shone brightly, reflecting the obsidian embedded in the dome, creating a shimmering, star-like effect.

Without Liu Tianchi giving any instructions, the young Taoist went straight to the side hall and clapped his hands three times. Instantly, a hundred bronze candles swayed and flickered, and the dancing candlelight transformed into spirit attendants dressed in scarlet gauze, offering many fruits and delicacies in their melodious voices.

Seeing this, Li Bing chuckled and said, "The myriad flames within the Thousand Flames Palace are all interconnected; today has truly been an eye-opening experience."

"They're just illusions created by lamplight; what's the big deal?"

Liu Tianchi raised his glass and urged Li Shixiong to drink, saying loudly, "Senior Brother Li, please!"

Li Bing's mood gradually improved, and he also picked up his wine cup and drank it all in one gulp.

Liu Tianchi exclaimed "Good!" and deliberately avoided the topic of Li Bing's mentor, instead engaging in lively and humorous conversation with him.

Li Bing was happy to do so, and drank heartily, much more so than usual.

But after a few rounds of drinks, he suddenly felt his mind clear. Looking at Liu Tianchi, who was laughing heartily, he said casually, "I heard that the Ten Thousand Bamboo Secret Realm is about to open. Do you know the details, Junior Brother?"

Liu Tianchi's smile softened, and he began to guess Li Bing's purpose in coming.

He nodded and replied, "Junior brother naturally knows that since the cultivators of the Three Capitals discovered the Myriad Bamboo Secret Realm, it has been opened once every hundred years, and has been opened more than ten times so far. It seems that in a few hundred years, this secret realm will collapse into the void turbulence..."

The Mysterious Realm of Ten Thousand Bamboos is conveniently located at the border of Sandu.

As a small secret realm with little danger and abundant spiritual materials, Xiajin Sandu naturally refused to give way.

Therefore, under the leadership of the Nine Luminaries Star Pivot Hall, the Three Capitals Daoist lineage established the rule of opening once every hundred years.

At that time, all three Daoist lineages can send disciples into the secret realm to explore opportunities and fortunes. How much they find will depend on their own luck.

However, since this secret realm is not very large, it can only accommodate Nascent Soul cultivators at most. Therefore, for the low-level disciples of the Three Capitals, this secret realm is indeed a rare opportunity.

However, each sect has a limited number of slots, so every year as the year of the opening ceremony approaches, the three sects always have to go through several rounds of competition to determine who can represent their sect...

"Could my junior brother go?" Li Bing suddenly asked.

Liu Tianchi lowered his head shyly and took a sip of wine: "To be honest, senior brother, my father used his resources to get me a spot, and the reason he summoned me just now was to give me instructions about the Wanzhu Grand Gathering..."

Upon hearing this, Li Bing felt a pang of sadness. Yes, Junior Brother Liu comes from a prestigious family, so how could he be as helpless and without connections as he is?
He had neither background nor ability, so he couldn't find a legitimate reason to attend the meeting.

However, my master has already passed away. If I miss this opportunity, the path to the Dao Realm may truly become a mirage...

Thinking of this, he forced himself to speak in a hoarse voice: "Junior Brother Liu, how much resources are needed to exchange for a spot from within the sect?"

Having failed to win in the previous competition among his fellow disciples, he could only pin his hopes on exchanging resources for a spot.

Upon hearing this, Liu Tianchi sighed deeply, unable to express the words in his heart.

Given Brother Li's current situation, how could he possibly provide the corresponding resources for offerings?
Seeing his expression, Li Bing's eyes dimmed slightly. After taking a sip of his cup, he said in a low voice, "If we could ask Brother Changsheng... or Brother Lingyuan to speak on our behalf, I wonder if this matter could be accommodated?"

His earlier inquiry was merely a probe; this is his true purpose.

After all, didn't he know whether he could offer resources in exchange?

Liu Tianchi knew he couldn't help Senior Brother Li, so he carefully considered the matter for him. After a moment, he suddenly clapped his hands, shaking his head and nodding, and said, "With Brother Changsheng's seniority... I'm afraid he can't, but Brother Lingyuan definitely can!"

Seeing his resolute determination, Li Bing was secretly pleased and asked, "Why?"

Liu Tianchi replied truthfully, "My father told me that the people in charge of this Wanzhu Grand Gathering are those two from Xuanxing Palace on Cangming Peak..."

Li Bing's eyes lit up. That's right, Brother Lingyuan and the two True Monarchs of Xuanxing Palace are from the same lineage, so he must have a lot of influence. If we can get Brother Lingyuan to speak up, how can we not get a spot?

"only……"

Liu Tianchi stroked the rim of his cup with a wry smile and sighed, "Brother Lingyuan and Brother Changsheng have both been in seclusion for a long time seeking a breakthrough. I don't know when they will emerge from seclusion. We can't even send a communication talisman into their caves, let alone ask for help in person."

These words extinguished the hope that had just been rekindled in Li Bing's heart. With a deep sigh, he picked up his wine cup and drank bitterly.

Seeing this, Liu Tianchi said no more and simply kept him company while he drank.

Before the two could finish their wine, the surrounding spiritual energy seemed to be drawn by something, suddenly surging and rolling in one direction.

"This is……"

Liu Tianchi suddenly stood up, the jade pendant at his waist jingling, and the celadon cup in his hand shattered on the jade brick, startling the drowsy Taoist boy beside him who was almost dozing off.

The two of them, without bothering to pack up, rushed out of the main hall...

In the distance, the sky was a vibrant green, with deep blue waves surging in the heavens. The fragrance of grass and trees filled the air, and an ancient evergreen tree stood tall above the heavens, like a towering tree reaching to the sky.

The fluctuations were most intense in the Kongqing Palace below.

Countless inspirations surged forth, causing the internal energy to rise again and again. In an instant, a sound like shattering glass was heard, followed by a clear and exhilarating shout that echoed throughout the heavens:
"Stars form the rings of time, roots connect the void and primordial chaos, leaf veins transform into the celestial network, only longevity is the root of heaven and earth!"

The roar was deafening, shattering the clouds in the sky...

"The fruits of the Dao manifest, displaying the aura of a True Lord."

Liu Tianchi stood there stunned, seemingly unable to react, and stammered, "Brother Changsheng... Brother Changsheng has actually become a True Lord at this moment."

Li Bing's clenched knuckles turned slightly white, and his distressed mood suddenly improved considerably.

This included joy for Brother Changsheng, and excitement that his own plans had begun to take shape.

Now that Brother Changsheng has emerged from seclusion, even if he can't necessarily make this happen, there's still some hope, isn't there? It's better than me making haphazard plans...

But at that moment, the sound of rushing water could be heard from deep within the sect, clear and pure, flowing in all directions.

The two were surprised and turned to look. They saw clouds gathering and water surging in from the sky to the north, turbulent and powerful.

Below, in the sea of ​​clouds, the scene was like a hidden illusion, with waves rolling and churning as if boiling. The sky and the water seemed to resonate with each other, poised to burst forth.

At the same time, they could feel a surge of spiritual energy stirring within the heavens and earth. Not only did the wind and clouds gather, but their own bodies swayed uncontrollably, and some even lost their footing.

Liu Tianchi quickly activated the restrictions in the Tianchi Palace to stabilize himself.

Looking up again, one could see that the glazed tiles of the thirty-six palaces were filled with fellow practitioners, all gazing at this strange phenomenon.

A moment later, a clear and high-pitched shout suddenly came from the depths of the clouds. It was not like the recitation of poetry by the Taoist of Immortality, but it resonated with the Great Dao even more, and silver waves pierced straight into the sky.

And with this sound, a waterfall of ten thousand feet rose from the sky, stretching straight up until it met the sky and dominated the sea of ​​clouds!
At the top of the waterfall stands a water-covered cauldron, its body shimmering with water ripples that seem to condense into countless water spirits supporting its legs, as if all rivers were flowing into it.

At this very moment, the sound of rushing water could be heard everywhere in Biluo Chaosheng Pavilion!

Although lower-ranking disciples of Chongtianxia cannot see such strange phenomena, if they look north, they can see a stream of mysterious water reaching the sky, shrouded in mist and flowing across the four seas.

Liu and Li were already frozen in shock. The Evergreen Tree of Brother Changsheng had not yet dissipated, and in the blink of an eye, another Dharma form appeared!
And look at that familiar three-legged, two-eared cauldron, who else could it be but Brother Lingyuan?

Li Bing suddenly awoke, and was instantly overjoyed.

If Lingyuan successfully emerges from seclusion, wouldn't that mean he'll be able to meet and request her services, and his plans would be much more likely to succeed?

Liu Tianchi thought of the same thing, shaking his head and sighing. He felt that it was Li Shixiong's luck that had come. Just when he needed help, two of his fellow Daoists who were worth talking to successfully completed their seclusion at the same time.

He chuckled softly, about to exchange a few words with Li Bing, when he unexpectedly caught sight of his father. True Monarch He Yan stood beneath the red tree in the main palace, hands clasped behind his back, sighing, "To break through within a grotto-heaven and still possess such extraordinary phenomena, truly a celestial being's bearing..."

Perhaps noticing his son's gaze, he turned around and looked into the distance, nodding in praise: "It is your good fortune to have formed a good relationship with this person."

Although the distance was far, the sound was clearly audible.

After saying this, True Lord He Yan flicked his sleeves and disappeared, leaving Liu and Li looking at each other in bewilderment.

A moment later, the two reacted and each activated their escape techniques, sending two streaks of light piercing through the misty water and shooting straight towards the Azure Palace.

And it wasn't just the two of them; along the way, from the palaces and pavilions under their eaves, people from each palace sent out to offer their congratulations, rushing northward like shooting stars chasing the moon...

Before long, the two descended from the clouds and saw that the palace envoys were already standing in front of the Azure Palace, hidden among the ancient cypress trees.

As they followed the crowd into the main hall, they felt an overwhelming pressure surge towards them as soon as they crossed the vermilion threshold.

Everyone looked up and saw a gaunt Taoist sitting on the cloud-patterned throne, surrounded by flowing rosy light, his face partially hidden in the misty aura.

"Congratulations to the Longevity True Lord for attaining enlightenment and reaching the profound mysteries of the Great Dao."

Dozens of voices resounded in the main hall. This was an old tradition of Chaosheng Pavilion. Whenever a new True Lord was promoted, each cave would send envoys to offer congratulations.

With a gentle flick of his wide sleeves, the Taoist priest lifted the bowing crowd to their feet.

He was prepared for this tradition, and after nodding to each of them, he dismissed the guests who had other places to go.

After the last guest left the hall, Liu Tianchi and Li Bing quickly stepped forward.

Li Bing's palms were slightly sweaty as he took out the congratulatory gift he had prepared beforehand, and then he smiled and said, "Brother Dao's breakthrough this time is truly..."

Before he could finish speaking, Daoist Changsheng waved his hand with a smile: "Junior Brother Li, there's no need to be so polite. Your coming to congratulate me already shows that we are close. Why go to such lengths? Do you have something important to ask of me?"

His joke, however, hit the nail on the head regarding Li Bing's thoughts.

Seeing this, Liu Tianchi spoke up at the opportune moment: "Brother Changsheng, Senior Brother Li intends to go to the Ten Thousand Bamboo Secret Realm. I shouldn't be telling you this now, but unfortunately, Senior Brother Li's master has passed away, and the spots are about to be decided, so we must..."

Since the last time they introduced Chen Mu to the sect, the three of them had become closer than ordinary fellow disciples. After learning the details, the Immortal Daoist slowly nodded and said frankly, "The path of Dao is a matter of course. What can't be said?"

He glanced at Li Bing, then looked up at the waterfall: "But Junior Brother Li, you should think this through. If you ask Brother Lingyuan to speak on your behalf now, the goodwill between you two will be gone."

Li Bing remained silent. How could he not understand what the Taoist of Immortality was saying?
However, the Myriad Bamboo Secret Realm was not to be missed for him, and all the good karma he could use was here...

Seeing that he had made up his mind, Daoist Changsheng said no more and chuckled, "Since that's the case, then the three of us will go together. Daoist Lingyuan and I will go into seclusion at the same time and break through together. Such a predestined relationship deserves a toast!"

The three of them were traveling on clouds when they suddenly saw the disciples from various palaces who had left earlier returning.

Liu Tianchi was taken aback and asked loudly, "How did you all get back so quickly?"

"True Lord Lingyuan has not yet emerged from seclusion. According to the guiding disciple, he will likely not be able to receive any guests for some time..."

The reply was blown away by the wind, and Li Bing swayed, almost losing his footing.

His rekindled hope cooled once again, and the ups and downs left him disheartened for a time...

……

Inside the Qingping Cave, mist filled the air, and Taoist energy flowed freely.

Chen Mu's consciousness was immersed in the Profound Realm of Inquiry, his physical form seemed to become ethereal, and his thoughts wandered between existence and non-existence.

After an unknown amount of time, the mist gradually collapsed, eventually condensing into a single, crystal-clear drop of dew suspended in the void, as if to freeze the passage of time.

Chen Mu suddenly opened his eyes, and in that instant, even the heavens and earth seemed to flicker.

With a slight thought, his primordial spirit, identical in appearance to his own, emerged from the Niwan Palace, stepping out from the clouds.

At this moment, the primordial spirit has shed its initial five-inch spiritual embryo form, and its robes flutter as if it were its true form descending to earth. Unless one is a powerful being of the same realm, it would be extremely difficult to distinguish between reality and illusion.

Feeling the torrent of magical power surging through his meridians like a dragon, Chen Mu was about to nod when he suddenly noticed something strange in the sky.

He looked up and saw that the mist and rain above the cave had not stopped, and this strange phenomenon of heaven and earth, which was derived from the Dao Seeking Realm, was still continuing.

"Now that you have attained enlightenment, why has the rain not stopped?"

The rain before him was no longer a creation of heaven and earth, but a symbol of his path to enlightenment; as long as the rain continued, his breakthrough was not yet complete…

Chen Mu frowned in thought, then suddenly felt something and turned to look. The ancient jade dew was shimmering with a deep blue light.

The moment it was clearly seen, the water droplet suddenly transformed into a stream of light, rushing into the Purple Palace in an instant, and without stopping, it directly attached itself to the mysterious water lotus formed by the innate Ren water.

Chen Mu's mind stirred slightly, and he vaguely began to make some guesses.

This mark was drawn by the innate Ren water, and now only a drop of water remains suspended in the lotus heart, within which there must be a mystery that he has not yet figured out.

Just as he was pondering this, a sudden change occurred.

The water lily, which had been still, suddenly swayed violently, and the drop of water at the heart of the lily slid down.

Chen Muyuan's entire spirit was concentrated on it, and with a clear "ding-dong" sound, the crystal water droplets drew ripple-like paths in mid-air before disappearing into thin air.

Almost simultaneously, the space around Shui Lian distorted violently. When he looked again, the innate Ren water plant that had been rooted in the Purple Mansion for hundreds of years had also vanished without a trace.

"this!"

Chen Mu's pupils contracted sharply, and a chill ran down his spine.

Since he obtained this innate spiritual object, he had never seen such a change.

Even with his steadfast Dao heart, he couldn't help but feel a tremor in his divine sense at this moment. His primordial spirit manifested instantly, and his vast divine consciousness flooded every corner of his Purple Mansion like a tidal wave.

One breath, two breaths... a full ten breaths, and the innate Ren water seemed to have evaporated, and the entire Purple Mansion still showed no trace of the water lily's aura.

Just as cold sweat began to bead on his forehead, ripples suddenly appeared in the void, and a silver-white ancient mirror materialized out of thin air.

The frame was engraved with flowing water and cloud patterns, and the mirror surface was as clear as a cold pool, reflecting Chen Mu's primordial spirit projection in perfect detail.

Having lost the innate Ren water, how did the ancient mirror return?

Chen Mu frowned, and when the ancient mirror turned to face him, his mind was suddenly jolted.

On the mirror, a beautiful water lily was in full bloom.

No, not on the surface of the mirror, but inside the mirror!

"boom!"

At the same moment, the light rain that had been falling outside Qingping Cave for who knows how many years finally stopped.

A beam of light, like a sword, dispelled the dark clouds and mist, soaring straight into the sky, and without stopping, it also broke through the barrier of the cave.

Inside the cave, Chen Mu's fingertips trembled slightly. This strange phenomenon of heaven and earth, which seemed familiar, made him lose himself in thought and mutter to himself.

"A Dao Fruit, yet another Dao Fruit...?"

……

(End of this chapter)