Lingyuan Immortal

Chapter 976 Dongming Candle Illumination
Upon hearing Yan Kong's words, not only were Qi Yunsu, Tao Fengbian, and other disciples of the two temples astonished, but Xu Rong, Guo Zizhe, and others were also stunned, all puzzled by his meaning.

Why did the Patriarch say that this fellow Daoist Chen Mu, who had only recently arrived, had a “deep connection” with the Qizhen lineage?
Chen Mu, on the other hand, appeared calm, as if he already had some guesses in his mind.

He stepped forward, bowed respectfully to Yan Kong, and his posture was neither humble nor arrogant.

Yan Kong nodded with a smile, his gaze deep, and slowly explained the reason: "Thousands of years ago, I sat in meditation in my cave, and the resentment and obsession that had been building up in my heart due to the conflict between my fellow disciples in the past finally dissipated by more than half."

"Out of consideration for our fellow disciples and the legacy of our master, I spared no expense to send out a wisp of my own essence, carrying with me the last scroll of the inherited cultivation technique that my two senior brothers had fought over but failed to obtain, which I had sealed deep within the cave heaven, and sent it out of the cave heaven."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the increasingly astonished crowd below: "My original intention was to hope that this scroll could fill the gaps in the inheritance received by my two senior brothers and mend the root cause of the rift in the Daoist lineage."

"However... just now, when I scanned it with my divine sense, I discovered that the scroll of cultivation technique was not in the hands of either of you, but rather..."

Yan Kong's gaze fell back on Chen Mu, carrying a hint of the mystery of fate: "...but it lies with this young friend Chen."

"what?"

The crowd erupted in an uproar, exchanging bewildered glances.

How could Patriarch Dongzhu have done such a thing? Why were they, as the core of the two sects, completely unaware of this matter, and why was it never recorded in the sect's records? Even more bizarrely, how could this crucial and fundamental inheritance have fallen into the hands of an outsider who had only recently set foot in Xuandu?

Yan Kong seemed to see through everyone's doubts and explained, "You need not be surprised. Thousands of years ago, the grotto-heaven was still sealed. This is due to the method left by our master. Even I am powerless to break it by force."

"Therefore, the wisp of spirit that was sent out was extremely weak, had no independent thought, and had no ability to transmit information. It only carried the most basic intention of 'sending out the inheritance'."

"I originally thought that my two senior brothers outside, with their profound cultivation, would be able to sense the fluctuations of energy originating from the cave and their fellow disciples immediately and retrieve this scroll..."

He sighed softly, with a hint of worldly wisdom: "Looking back now, my two senior brothers at that time were probably already at the end of their cultivation, their life force exhausted, or they were in seclusion at a critical juncture, and they had no time to pay attention to the slightest movements here."

Upon hearing this, Qi Yunsu, Tao Fengbian, and the others suddenly realized what was happening, and were immediately filled with a sense of lingering fear and complicated emotions.

Although the patriarch's actions were well-intentioned, they were also quite risky. Such a fundamental and profound skill was given away in such a hasty manner, which greatly increased the risk of leakage.

However, upon further reflection, the most important aspect of passing down a martial arts technique is its completeness and core essence.

Even if a mere fragment of a book were to be leaked, without the guidance of the preceding text and the core principles, if an outsider were to attempt to practice it, at best they would suffer from qi deviation and at worst they would die and their cultivation would be destroyed, or they might not even be able to understand its profound mysteries.

Perhaps it was precisely because of this point that the patriarch dared to act in this way.

At this moment, Chen Mu took out the moss-covered, ancient and worn-out broken bamboo slip from his sleeve, held it up, and asked, "Is this what you were talking about, senior?"

Yan Kong nodded with a smile. He didn't make any move, but his gaze narrowed slightly. The broken bamboo slip seemed to be pulled by an invisible hand and floated lightly into the air.

Om-!
A sudden burst of inspiration erupted from the broken bamboo slip.

The ancient moss covering it was burned away by an invisible fire, instantly turning into ashes and disappearing.

The originally broken and incomplete jade surface became warm and translucent, and countless tiny golden characters, like tadpoles, containing the true meaning of the Great Dao, appeared, flowed, and even reassembled as if they were alive.

As the light shimmered, a profound Daoist scripture manifested in the void surrounding the broken scroll. Although it only lasted for a moment before disappearing, the majestic Daoist aura it exuded was worlds apart from what Chen Mu had presented earlier, as different as heaven and earth.

Fu Danian, being the most impatient, moved closer to Chen Mu and asked with curiosity and eagerness, "Fellow Daoist Chen, you haven't been in Xuandu for very long, how... how did you obtain this item? Could it be that the avatar of that spirit took the initiative to seek you out?"

Chen Mu smiled frankly and shook his head, saying, "I'm afraid Fellow Daoist Fu won't believe it, but this item didn't actively seek me out. I obtained it by chance from a fourth-level demon cultivator."

"And that demon cultivator... is cultivating right here in your temple... or rather, right beneath this waterway of Qizhou."

He was referring to the fourth-tier fish demon named Han Shui Nian.

"Huh?" Fu Danian was stunned and clicked his tongue repeatedly.

Upon hearing this, Tao Fengbian was filled with emotion and shame: "Thousands of years have passed, and such a fundamental lineage has been tarnished by the hands of a mere fourth-tier demon cultivator, scattered and lost. We, as inheritors of the lineage, were completely unaware of it! We are truly... ashamed before our ancestors, utterly ashamed!"

Luo Feng chimed in, "Fellow Daoist Chen has had this fortuitous opportunity so soon after arriving in Xuandu, receiving the fundamental inheritance of my Qizhen lineage. No wonder Ancestor Dongzhu said that Fellow Daoist has a deep connection with my Qizhen lineage..."

Chen Mu was quite surprised to see the change in his attitude. After all, he had personally killed his junior sister, and even though there was still a chance for her to be resurrected, it was difficult to justify the situation.

However, since the other party had spoken, he couldn't be cold, so he went along with it and cupped his hands to Yan Kong, saying, "Your precious treasure has been covered in dust, but fortunately it has not been lost. Today, it has been returned to its rightful owner, which is also a matter of fate."

Yan Kong looked at Chen Mu, his gentle smile deepening: "Young friend Chen, you are so righteous. You helped me in my time of crisis, that is one kindness. Now you have taken the initiative to return my fundamental inheritance technique, that is the second kindness."

"The double kindness shown to me at Qizhen Temple is profound and difficult to express my gratitude lightly."

He spoke in a loud voice, as if pointing to something: "I hereby promise that if young friend Chen ever needs anything in the future, my Qizhen lineage will do everything in its power to help and repay you with all its might!"

boom--!
These words, once uttered, were like the imperial decree of the Great Dao, and the laws of heaven and earth resonated with them.

Chen Mu felt a sudden tremor deep within his mind, as if an invisible shackle had been broken in an instant.

Then, the solid barrier within his acupoints that had been preventing him from going any further began to loosen and disintegrate, and an unprecedented sense of clarity and transparency swept through his entire body.

Having grown accustomed to the power of cause and effect, he keenly sensed that a dazzling, thick, and extremely refined golden thread suddenly manifested between him, Yan Kong, and the entire newly established Qizhen Temple.

The power contained in this "golden thread of cause and effect" is far greater and the connection is closer than what was obtained last time.

It pierces through the void, one end tied to Chen Mu, and the other end deeply rooted in Yan Kong's vast and unfathomable immortal origin and the immense fortune of Qizhen Temple, which has just been reunited but already contains infinite potential.

This powerful force of cause and effect resonated, washing over his foundation like a torrent, making him clearly feel that the opportunity to break through the next level, or even the level after that, was right before his eyes!
Although Xu Rong, Guo Zizhe, and others who inquired about the True Lord could not "see" the golden thread of cause and effect as clearly as Chen Mu, they keenly sensed a grand and close causal connection that was instantly formed between Chen Mu and Qizhen Temple. Its weight was so great that it made people's hearts tremble.

Undisguised envy flickered in their eyes. However, for them, this vague promise of cause and effect, which could not be directly converted into strength, was clearly more in line with their needs than the tangible position of an elder in Qizhen Temple. After all, the path of cultivation was long and arduous, and what suited them best was the best.

Chen Mu was overjoyed, feeling that the gains far exceeded his expectations.

He suppressed the urge to immediately return to seclusion and stepped forward again to express his gratitude.

Yan Kong waved his hand and said calmly, "Young friend, there is no need to thank me. This is due to your own accumulation and fate. It is something you deserve."

"What I just said was merely a promise made on behalf of the Qizhen lineage. What follows is my personal gratitude to you."

Before he finished speaking, he gently flicked his wide robe sleeves.

hum!hum!hum!hum!
Four orbs of light, varying in size and color, yet each radiating a profound and mysterious Daoist aura, appeared out of thin air in front of Chen Mu and floated silently.

Within the ball of light, runes could be faintly seen flowing, exuding a natural Daoist charm, as if sealing away the true meaning of the Great Dao.

"These four are the essence of the fundamental Taoist arts passed down through my Qizhen lineage," Yan Kong said calmly. "You may choose any one to study and practice."

In an instant, the entire Three Immortals Valley fell into silence.

Everyone was stunned, including Qi Yunsu and Tao Fengbian.

They had never heard of expressing gratitude with one's own family's fundamental lineage techniques. After all, this was the core foundation upon which a lineage stood; for ordinary disciples, even true disciples, to receive even one of these techniques was an immense stroke of luck. The patriarch was actually allowing an outsider to choose one?!
Qi Yunsu frowned, her worry outweighing her astonishment.

As a former pillar of the Liangyi Temple, he was well aware of the hidden dangers of the leakage of the fundamental lineage. After hesitating for a long time, he couldn't help but step forward and whispered, "Master, shouldn't this matter... be reconsidered? After all, this is my Qizhen Temple..."

Yan Kong did not turn around, but simply waved his hand lightly, his tone calm but carrying an undeniable determination: "It's alright."

Chen Mu was also extremely surprised.

He looked at the four orbs of light before him, each containing profound mystery, and then at Yan Kong's clear, deep eyes, which seemed to see through everything yet contained no pretense. After a pause, he did not feign modesty or decline, knowing full well that in front of someone like Yan Kong, any pretense would be superfluous.

He smiled frankly, cupped his hands and said, "I am humbled by your kindness, senior. In that case, I will accept it without being disrespectful."

He focused his mind and directed his divine sense toward the four orbs of light in turn.

The first ball of light, displaying the colors of chaos and yin and yang, seemed to contain a grand scene of the world's birth and death and the return of all things to stillness, exuding a chilling power of annihilation, which was "all things returning to nothingness".

The second ball of light, as dazzling as a galaxy, contained countless sharp, incomparably powerful rays of light that cut through the void, known as the "Taiyi Dividing Light Slash".

The third orb of light, as heavy as a mountain and like the pulse of the earth, exuded a majestic Daoist aura that suppressed the universe and carried all things; it was named "Kun Yuan Zhen Yue".

The last ball of light, however, was the most peculiar.

It has no fixed form; its core is like a cluster of eternally flickering pale golden candle flame, warm and restrained, its light not dazzling, yet carrying a strange power that penetrates all fog and illuminates the essence.

Even more mysteriously, the candlelight reflected on Chen Mu's divine sense, making him feel that his magical power and even the very foundation of his Dao were clearly revealed, leaving him nowhere to hide, as if he were being examined under the purest light source.

Its Taoist charm is serene and profound, insightful and penetrating, carrying a supreme artistic conception of illuminating eternity and revealing one's true self.

This is precisely the fundamental Taoist art "Dongming Zhuzhao" created by Yan Kong, who used "Dongzhu" as his pseudonym and incorporated his millennia of quiet contemplation, his mind reflecting the Great Dao, and his insight into the origin.

The core of this technique lies in that one point of "Eastern Bright Candlelight," which can illuminate oneself, reveal the flaws in one's path, reflect external objects, and perceive the origin of all things. Furthermore, it can draw upon the power of time, allowing one to glimpse the cause and effect in an instant and dispel illusions and delusion.

Of course, to reach that final realm, one's own cultivation level would need to be at least at the sixth level of the Dao Realm, which is still a long way off for Chen Mu.

Without weighing the pros and cons too much, Chen Mu followed his intuition, stretched out his finger, and gently touched the eternally flickering pale golden candle flame: "This junior chooses this."

The ball of light, like a lit lamp wick, transformed into a warm and profound golden ray, entering Chen Mu's brow. A vast amount of profound information, especially the true meaning of the Dao seed of "Dongming Candlelight," was instantly imprinted deep within his soul.

Seeing Chen Mu make this choice, a hint of approval and understanding flashed in Yan Kong's eyes, as if he had expected it all along.

He smiled calmly: "This technique may be destined for you."

After speaking, he waved his sleeve again, and the other three orbs of light vanished without a trace.

"All matters have been settled, and the cause and effect have been resolved."

Yan Kong looked at Chen Mu and said gently, "Young friend Chen, you may go now. Focus on refining what you have gained, and you will surely reap the rewards."

He paused, his gaze seemingly piercing through endless void, and finally added, his tone carrying an indescribable meaning: "When you return to the sect one day after you have achieved your goal, if there is an opportunity, please convey my regards to your master..."

Upon hearing this, Chen Mu's heart stirred.

As expected, Yan Kong's generous treatment stemmed not only from his own karma and destiny, but also from consideration for his master's reputation...

He did not delay and bowed to Yan Kong again, saying, "I will certainly convey your words, senior!"

After the ceremony, he did not linger. He nodded to Tao Fu and the others, then leaped into the air and flew away on a cloud.

Xu Rong and the others followed closely behind, transforming into several streaks of light as they chased after the direction Chen Mu had gone.

Although they have been granted the position of Elder of Qizhen Temple, their personal assets and temples are still elsewhere, and they need to go back and reorganize them.

Chen Mu did not fly at full speed, but deliberately slowed down. Before long, Xu Rong and the others caught up.

"Fellow Daoist Chen, wait!" Xu Rong's voice came.

Chen Mu stopped his escape light, hovering in the clouds. He turned around and saw Xu Rong and the others arriving together.

Guo Zizhe spoke first, his tone filled with heartfelt emotion: "Fellow Daoist Chen, this trip to the Three Immortal Valley has truly been full of ups and downs, and thrilling."

"If it weren't for your righteous intervention, which turned the tide and saved us from this crisis, we would have been in grave danger, let alone holding the position of elder of Qizhen Temple. It would have been difficult for us to even escape unscathed. It is truly our good fortune to be able to travel with you!"

Xu Rong also bowed and said solemnly, "What Fellow Daoist Guo said is absolutely right. Fellow Daoist Chen is incredibly powerful, has a transcendent mind, and is even more commendable for his public-spiritedness. I will remember this kindness in my heart."

"If you ever need anything in the future, just say the word, and I, Xu Rong, will do my utmost to help!"

In fact, he knew where Chen Mu needed his help, but he said this only to get closer to him. After all, once you miss someone like Chen Mu, it will be hard to get close to him again.

Chen Mu nodded and smiled, returning the greeting with a cupped hand: "Fellow Daoists, you flatter me. I am also grateful that we were able to meet and share hardships on this journey. It is truly fate. We part for now, but if a suitable time arises in the future, we will discuss the Dao again over wine..."

Upon hearing this, the group was overjoyed.

"Haha, good! Let's discuss matters over wine! It's a deal!"

"Take care, fellow Daoist!"

"Take care!" Mr. and Mrs. Wu said in unison.

The group exchanged tokens of communication, exchanged a few pleasantries, and wished each other well.

Chen Mu was eager to return home, so he turned around and disappeared into the vast sea of ​​clouds.

Xu Rong and the others watched him leave, each choosing their own direction, and then dispersed as streaks of light...

After Chen Mu and the others completely disappeared into the sky, Qi Yunsu and the others looked at each other in the Three Immortals Valley, their faces still filled with confusion.

How could their expressions possibly escape Yan Kong's notice?
Looking at his junior disciples, whose thoughts were written all over their faces, he couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle, explaining in a calm tone:
"To open a temple and establish a new path, and to revive the name of 'Qizhen', how easy is it? Even if I have achieved the realm of a loose immortal today, looking at the entire Xuandu Realm, there are still three behemoths with long-standing traditions, profound foundations, and true immortals in charge, whose power is overwhelming and dominates the region."

"Qizhen Temple is newly established and its foundation is still shallow, like a new seedling just beginning to grow. It needs to make many good connections and especially needs strong support."

His gaze fell in the direction Chen Mu had left, his expression unfathomable: "Young friend Chen may seem to be at the initial stage of the Dao Inquiry realm, but the depth of his foundation and the profundity of his Dao techniques far surpass his peers. What's even more remarkable is that behind him... lies a true lineage of True Immortals!"

"Today, I bestowed upon him Taoist arts, thus establishing a good karmic connection. It may seem like a sacrifice, but in reality, it is planting an immeasurable seed of karmic assistance for the future of Qizhen Temple. This is not the time to be petty; we should treat him with magnanimity..."

……

(End of this chapter)