Lingyuan Immortal

Chapter 900 Immortal Magic
The entrance has nine layers, and every three layers form a natural barrier.

A cultivator who can break through two barriers might not be uncommon, but those who can traverse three barriers in one go are few and far between in the last thousand years...

Chen Mu focused his mind and guarded his inner energy, and the mysterious elixir in his dantian spun like the moon.

With each rotation of the cinnabar pattern, the cinnabar chamber shimmered with golden light. When the nine cycles were completed, the cinnabar energy condensed into a three-foot-long golden ray, pointing directly at the pale golden pattern in the void.

Compared to the two golden threads of cause and effect that were severed earlier, this golden pattern was as thin as a spider's thread, and the flowing halo was dim and fleeting. Only after it penetrated into the sea of ​​consciousness and merged with the remaining cause and effect did it weave a thin layer of golden veins on the surface of the Ze Ding.

The familiar sound of disintegration rang out again, though it was several times more difficult than the previous two times. Chen Mu still breathed a sigh of relief, and then became overjoyed.

This move may seem uneventful, but in reality, it's a matter of two sides, and whether it succeeds or fails is hard to say.

But now that the cauldron has cracked, it's like a furnace being set ablaze; we're already seven or eight tenths certain of success.

It must be admitted that although this golden thread of cause and effect is as thin as a spider's web, it acts like a fuse, connecting all the scattered forces of cause and effect, thus saving the trouble of deducing cause and effect...

In less than half an incense stick's time, a roar rose again above the vast sea.

The newly cast Ze Ding stands majestically in the middle of the vast sea, with thousands of waves yielding to its power, and the cloud patterns on the ding body subtly shimmering with three layers of golden halos.

Chen Mu suppressed the surging joy in his chest, and gently touched the handle of the cauldron with his primordial spirit, carefully comprehending the mysteries of heaven and earth after the three profound gates were connected...

However, what Chen Mu didn't know was that the moment he broke through the three barriers, in a magnificent palace in a distant and unknown place, an old man sitting on a cloud platform suddenly opened his eyes.

Although his face was obscured by the chaotic mist, his eyes clearly held a turbulent energy as his gaze shot like lightning toward the towering Xuan Shui mirror in the hall, which stood nine zhang tall.

At this moment, the mirror surface was rippling with waves, as if an ancient whale was churning in the mirror, with rolling waves spreading in all directions.

Before long, dozens of streaks of water-colored light pierced through the clouds and mist.

The cultivators, dressed in robes with cloud patterns, filed into the hall. Some had white hair and youthful faces, while others had long black hair that reached their shoulders. At this moment, they could not hide the strange and complicated expressions on their faces. Some were frowning with worry, while others looked excited and confused.

"Master, the ancestral mirror is behaving strangely. What could be the reason for this?"

Unable to contain his emotions, someone bowed respectfully and asked a question.

The old man at the head of the table remained silent, but with a wave of his sleeve, he revealed the scene reflected in the water mirror to everyone.

Where the vast ocean flows, a bronze cauldron stands majestically, its three legs stabilizing the world, its two handles holding the Milky Way. The innate water patterns entwined on the cauldron's body manifest in the mirror as thirty-six layers of Daoist rhyme, each ripple subtly corresponding to the rise and fall of the tides.

"It's actually a Dao Fruit of a Cauldron!"

"Besides my descendants, who else could manifest such a Dao fruit?!"

"Clan leader, is it possible to ascertain this person's location?"

……

In an instant, the magnificent hall was filled with a boiling atmosphere, as if the water in the cauldron was boiling. Everyone's eyes shone brightly, and they all exclaimed in surprise and discussed among themselves, their gazes fixed on the Xuan Cauldron with fervent interest.

"If I could replace him, or even seize his Dao and refine it to merge with my own body, wouldn't I instantly become the most outstanding talent in the clan?!"

Just as the people in the hall were getting excited, all the noise suddenly stopped.

"Tap..."

The footsteps coming from outside the hall were clear and melodious, like shattered jade being thrown into a pot, each step precisely coinciding with the heartbeats of everyone present.

Everyone fell silent instantly, as if doused with an icy spring.

Looking back, one could see a blue silk gauze flowing past the jade steps, and the figure of the person approaching was like a new moon breaking through the clouds, with eyebrows and eyes like snow reflected in a cold river.

With each step she took, a lotus flower bloomed beneath her feet, and by the time she reached the front of the hall, the entire bronze hall was filled with a light mist.

Yes, with such a woman around, how could such a good thing possibly fall into their laps?
As expected, the old man in the hall immediately relaxed his expression upon seeing the woman and said with a smile, "Qingli has come at just the right time."

The woman remained expressionless, only bowing slightly.

The old man remained unmoved, as if he were already familiar with the woman's personality. He pointed to the water mirror and said, "Since you are not a descendant of the Gong clan, it is only right that I help you attain the Dao."

"Judging from his appearance, this person belongs to the East and should be from Xiajin Sandu. Qingli, you can go there on your own and seize the opportunity to take advantage of the situation..."

The woman in the blue dress nodded slightly, and when she turned around, the ice marrow hair ornament in her hair did not sway at all.

Only after that cold figure disappeared into the cloud-like steps outside the palace did the crowd, who had been silent as cicadas in winter, dare to breathe again, as if they were afraid that this woman might surpass the clan leader.

On the cloud platform, the old man seemed oblivious, clapping his hands and laughing, his voice resounding among the Xuanming dragon carvings perched on the beams and pillars of the palace: "Heaven bestows the Pure Glass, Gonggong shall return to the peak of the floating clouds!"

……

Inside the Qingping Cave, after achieving his goal, Chen Mu did not rush to leave seclusion. Instead, he focused his mind and energy to consolidate his cultivation.

After all, having broken through three profound barriers in succession, not only has the Dao Fruit been reborn, but the spiritual energy and true essence that have increased dozens of times also need to be carefully honed and controlled...

Time flies, and a year has passed in the blink of an eye.

At Chen Mu's level, the changing seasons pass in the blink of an eye, let alone when he enters seclusion and meditation.
When he opened his eyes after entering meditation, he felt a sense of disorientation, as if he had just begun his seclusion the day before.

He shook his head and chuckled softly, then lightly flicked his sleeves and stepped out of the cave.

Spring has come again, with peach and plum blossoms in full bloom and the golden sun casting its rays.

Chen Mu stood on the cliff edge, breathing in and out the energy of heaven and earth, his body exuding a Daoist aura that tinkled like jade pendants.

He suddenly chuckled to himself, "Without entering this realm, one is merely a frog in a well peering at the sky."

Although I had seen cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage perform their deeds before, I now understand the profound mystery behind it by witnessing it firsthand.

Such beings embody the ultimate principles of heaven and earth in every gesture; a thousand miles of mountains and rivers are but a mustard seed in their palm. Before them, Nascent Soul cultivators are truly no different from ants…

Of course, this excludes cultivators like him who cannot be judged by common sense.

But how many people like him are there in the world?
Chen Mu stood with his sleeves behind his back, overlooking the cliff, gazing at the vast cavern before him, his heart filled with countless emotions.

Now that the True Lord has been established, one-third of the Ninefold Barrier has been breached.

Next, we must continue this vigorous and diligent momentum, striving to break through again and again at the fastest speed!
After all, he was still young, but many of his old friends in the Tai Xuan Realm would inevitably grow old. If by the time he reached the pinnacle, all his enemies and close friends with whom he had shared drinks had turned into withered bones in a tomb, wouldn't the path to immortality be too desolate?
Thinking of this, Chen Mu remained silent for a moment, then straightened his clothes and went straight to his master's secluded place, intending to ask him about the essentials of subsequent cultivation.

To his surprise, his master was also in seclusion and had not come out, and he didn't know what he was busy with.

Fortunately, according to Senior Brother Qingshan's explanation, Master will not be in seclusion for too long.

He had no choice but to wait patiently and temporarily stop. After returning to his cave, he took out the jade pendant filled with congratulatory messages and replied to each old and new friend.

However, he was unaware of the passage of time during his seclusion, while the outside world was quite full.

Just like Li Bing, who, with the approval of Liang Chong and Zhu Xiao, was given a spot a year ago to participate in the Wanzhu Grand Gathering with the sect.

And just as Liu Tianchi said, this trip to the secret realm indeed became a turning point in his path.

Not only did he not encounter any dangers, but he also obtained a vast amount of rare and precious materials in the Wanzhu Secret Realm, which not only helped him directly enter the late stage of the Nascent Soul Realm, but also accumulated enough resources to hone his cultivation for decades.

Once his Dao Foundation is complete, he can then make contributions to the sect and seek the opportunity to pursue the Dao...

From the passing of my mentor and the dimming of my path to now, when I am about to reach the Nascent Soul stage, only a short cycle of time has passed.

Ultimately, it all came down to that one stroke of luck back then.

His master missed his chance years ago, but he, as the disciple, seized the opportune moment. Even the immortal Daoist couldn't help but sigh: for cultivators like them, often just a wisp of good fortune could be worth a hundred years of arduous cultivation for ordinary people…

He felt deeply about this and was even more grateful to the person who gave him this opportunity.

He had gone to Fuyuan Cave Heaven three times to request an audience after returning from the Wanzhu Grand Gathering, but to no avail.

It wasn't until the thirty-six palaces rang in unison that they knew Brother Lingyuan had successfully emerged from seclusion.

He immediately went to find Brother Changsheng and Junior Brother Liu, and together they went to meet Brother Lingyuan.

During this time, he was naturally very uneasy, fearing that his previous act of taking things without permission had offended Chen Mu.

Unexpectedly, after hearing the whole story, Chen Mu not only showed no anger, but also seemed to understand something and gently tapped the jade table: "So that thread of cause and effect should have manifested here..."

Although he did not understand the profound doctrine of cause and effect, seeing the envious look on the Changsheng Daoist's face, he knew that this opportunity was extraordinary.

Thus, his good relationship with Brother Lingyuan came to an end. Although he couldn't help but feel emotional, he had ultimately gotten what he wanted, so it could be considered a satisfactory ending.

Amidst the cloud-covered steps and moonlit ground, after the four of them finished several cups of spiritual tea, the past events between the two of them vanished like smoke...

……

The next day, as dawn broke, Chen Mu descended the mountain through the morning mist, preparing to visit his fourth senior brother and sixth senior sister alone.

The two of them, in order to settle their karmic debts, inadvertently helped him break through the third barrier. If he did not express his gratitude for this cause and effect, he would feel uneasy.

However, just as they reached the boundary of the cave, they suddenly felt the sea of ​​clouds surging behind them.

He looked back and saw purple mist rising from the summit of Fuyuan Mountain, with thousands of auspicious clouds intertwining to form a canopy. It turned out that his master had broken through the seclusion ahead of schedule.

"Come and see me."

A clear voice suddenly rang in his ears, and Chen Mu's mind raced. He thought to himself, "Fine, I should go and pay my respects to my master first."

He immediately turned back to the mountain path, walking briskly, and arrived at the small pavilion on the mountaintop in less than half a cup of tea's time.

Upon entering the quiet room, one sees Fu Yuanzi sitting upright on a jade futon, his white hair shimmering with a mysterious light resembling three flowers gathering at the top of his head.

He nodded with a smile and said, "The three mysteries have all been broken, which is one more level than the fate predicted by the old Taoist."

Chen Mu straightened his clothes and performed the disciple's salute: "It was also a coincidence, Fourth Senior Brother..."

After he explained the reason, Fu Yuanzi's eyes flashed, seemingly quite pleased, and he said, "Your fourth senior brother also cultivates the True Water Dao. If you have any questions about cultivation in the future, you can seek his verification, apart from this old Daoist who sits in meditation."

Seeing his disciple bow his head in agreement, the old Taoist changed the subject: "As for your second Dao Fruit..."

Upon hearing this, Chen Mu's heart stirred slightly. He was about to speak when Fu Yuanzi raised his hand to stop him, saying, "There's no need to explain."

"Whether you are blessed by ancient times or received a gift from the heavens, it is ultimately your destiny."

"All I ask of you is to help you attain the true immortality and fulfill your long-cherished wish of ten thousand years. All other things are like fleeting clouds."

A wisp of smoke curled from the sandalwood incense burner, and Chen Mu silently bowed deeply to the ground.

"But..."

Fu Yuanzi paused slightly, his expression becoming more serious. "The second Dao Fruit is ultimately astonishing. If you wish to walk the mortal world, you should know the principle of concealing your strength and keeping a low profile."

Upon hearing this, Chen Mu frowned, as this was also the source of his recent worries.

Although the innate Ren water was spared the hidden dangers due to the second Dao Fruit, if a powerful being were to discover this double Dao Fruit, it would likely still bring about a catastrophic calamity.

Perhaps True Lords and most Dao Lords wouldn't notice, but if a Loose Immortal or even a True Immortal like Master were to appear before them, their Second Dao Fruit would have nowhere to hide...

Looking at his smiling master, a clear light flashed in his eyes, and he bowed again, saying, "Please teach me, Master."

"Hahaha!"

Fu Yuanzi immediately laughed three times, stroked his beard and nodded, saying, "That's right. If there's anything beyond your power, you can ask your master for help. Otherwise, wouldn't this old Daoist become just a decoration?"

He lightly tapped the void with his finger, and a clear ripple spread out in response, disappearing precisely into Chen Mu's brow like the moon reflected in a mirror lake.

Chen Mu felt as if spring rain had fallen on his forehead, the cool and refreshing sensation fleeting.

"This is……"

Fu Yuanzi did not rush to explain, but murmured, "Actually, it is not difficult to conceal the secrets of the second Dao Fruit. Although I am a loose immortal, I am confident that I can set up a restriction that even a true immortal cannot see."

“It’s not a good thing for you to cover it up for me.”

"I cannot watch over you all the time. The only way I can help you survive the trials and tribulations of the mortal world is to transform the method of concealment into a gentle breeze in your palm."

Fu Yuanzi paused slightly, his gaze fixed on the remaining water stains on his disciple's forehead.

"This is the immortal technique 'Moon in the Water,' one of only two immortal techniques in my Chaosheng Pavilion. Although the old Taoist has simplified it, it still retains the true meaning of 'flower in a mirror and moon in the water,' and the wonder of reversing yin and yang remains."

"More importantly, the most mysterious aspect of this technique lies in using the illusory to become the real and using the false to cultivate the true."

"When you have the time to cultivate to the highest level, even a true immortal with eyes of extraordinary insight will find it difficult to distinguish between your reflection in the water and the bright moon in the sky..."

Suddenly, the copper bells on the eaves rang out, and Chen Mu's Adam's apple bobbed slightly; he was already deeply shaken.

Immortal arts...

Since embarking on the path of cultivation, his only encounter with immortal arts was when he fought against the True Immortal Anqing in the Penglai Wonderland.

The searing pain of that "Burning Essence" immortal technique burning away flesh and blood, and the tearing sensation of even the soul being licked by crimson flames, still leave a burning mark deep in the sea of ​​consciousness.

Even after witnessing Zi Chen's endless array of immortal techniques, none of them could leave such a profound and unforgettable impression as that one...

And now, another immortal technique is presented before him, and he is still required to cultivate it!
Chen Mu's pupils trembled slightly, and his fingertips unconsciously touched the water stain between his brows.

Having been a disciple of Chaosheng Pavilion for many years, he naturally knew that only those who reached the Dao Lord realm were qualified to cultivate immortal arts.

I have only just begun to understand the sect, yet I have already received this opportunity; it is clearly because of my master…

Chen Mu looked up and suddenly felt that his master's obsession was too strong.

He doesn't care about cause and effect, reincarnation, or fortune and misfortune. It seems that as long as he can help his disciple ascend to the path of immortality, he would not hesitate to risk the collapse of the heavens and the earth...

But the more this was the case, the more Chen Mu felt as if a thousand pounds of cold iron were hanging in his heart.

Having cultivated the Tao for hundreds of years, he was no longer an ignorant child and naturally understood that such deep-seated obsessions were not necessarily a blessing on the path of cultivation.

Especially for someone like Master who has already touched the edge of the Great Dao, if his beliefs are wrong, the backlash could be devastating enough to destroy mountains and sever seas.

Even though he was indeed the one who benefited, Chen Mu was not a heartless person. How could he feel at ease watching his elders, who had treated him with sincerity, go astray?
"Perhaps I should find an opportunity to remind my master..."

While he was deep in thought, Fu Yuanzi had already inscribed his insights into cultivating "Moon in the Water" onto a jade slip.

"I've gained a deep understanding, but if I haven't reached the first level of 'illusory beauty,' I'll postpone my travel plans for now..."

……

(End of this chapter)