Promise!

Chapter 299, The Bluebird

"The three gates of Yang Shen are: entering stillness, spiritual movement, and pure primordial essence."

The first stage: entering stillness.

Upon reaching the Void Realm of the Third Stage of Yin Spirit, one's consciousness has already descended to the very bottom of the Sea of ​​Souls. At this point, the Yin Spirit Realm can no longer advance; to go further, one must attain Yin to generate Yang.

The process of Yin giving rise to Yang actually involves two steps. The first step is 'Yin,' which requires entering another level and reaching a state of emptiness and stillness.

This step is also the conventional bottleneck of the Yang spirit. It cannot be broken through simply by accumulating perfect knowledge. It is similar to the first barrier of the three innate barriers, the spiritual barrier, and the first barrier of the three Yin spirit barriers, the sensory barrier. In addition to having a profound foundation, one also needs a stroke of luck, like striking a lucky break, to enter this state.

There are also shortcuts, such as using a treasure like the main realm of the Suspended Sky Mirror—even a sub-realm like Cangzhou wouldn't work—or using rare and precious natural treasures as an aid.

The second challenge is agility.

The first stage is called "entering stillness," a state of emptiness and tranquility. If one remains in this stage for an extended period and cannot escape, the soul will be completely extinguished.

At this point, one is required to generate spiritual light in a state of emptiness and stillness, and awaken a bit of pure Yang true nature, which is the 'generation of Yang' from the extreme of Yin.

Once the first yang is born, the yin spirit in the Niwan Palace will instantly transform into the yang spirit.

The third challenge is Chun Yuan.

After the pure Yang essence transforms the Yin spirit into the Yang spirit, the final step is to use the Yang spirit to imbue the divine essence, thus transforming the Yin spirit essence into the Yang spirit essence.

If the soul is not strong enough to completely transform the Yin spirit essence into Yang spirit essence in one go, the remaining Yin spirit essence will rebel and impact the Niwan Palace, thus defiling the newly born Yang spirit, causing the soul to shatter, and the body to die and the Dao to dissipate.

It can be said that the three trials of the Yang God are fraught with danger; once they begin, it is either life or death.

This is like jumping from one step to another, with a sheer cliff between the two steps. If you start jumping from one step and miss the other, you will fall into the abyss and never recover.

'It is precisely because of this difficulty that the Great Qian Yang Gods are so rare; at most, there are no more than two palms' worth. They hold an even higher position, serving as the pillars of their clans and the stabilizing force of their families.'

'The first level of the Yang Shen realm—Ling Zhao—is known as the 'Grandmaster of the Spirit Realm,' truly the pinnacle of this world, capable of engaging in equal dialogue with powerful clans and even the Great Qian imperial family.'

Zhuang Jin thought to himself, considering the specific circumstances of these three challenges.

'The first hurdle—entering stillness—I have no bottleneck, so I can ignore this hurdle and directly enter a state of emptiness and stillness.'

'The second hurdle—agility—that's going to be tricky.'

In this stage, the stronger the soul and the deeper the state of emptiness, the more difficult it is for a 'being born from the extreme of emptiness' to enter.

However, Zhuang Jin's spiritual power is twice that of an ordinary person, which is practically hellish.

'The third challenge—Chun Yuan—is no longer a problem for me.'

"My divine soul is powerful. As long as I pass the second stage and awaken a bit of pure Yang spirituality, my Yin spirit will transform into a Yang spirit. With the profound foundation of my divine soul, transforming the Yin spirit essence into Yang spirit essence will be effortless. There will be absolutely no problem of insufficient divine soul strength or Yin spirit essence rebellion."

—The divine soul is innate, and it is extremely difficult to strengthen it later. For example, the "Yin Yang Union Divine Technique" has very limited effect. To date, Zhuang Jin and Shangguan Yunchang have been practicing this secret technique for almost ten years, and the degree of strengthening is only about one or two percent. However, this is already the most top-level heaven-defying secret technique. Other natural treasures that can enhance the divine soul, if they can strengthen it by five or ten percent, are already peerless divine objects.

Therefore, for others, the second of the three trials of Yang Shen—Ling Dong—can be a time for mental and physical tempering, and they can find some helpful treasures. However, the final trial, Chun Yuan, has no good methods and can only be a gamble based on whether one's innate divine soul is sufficient.

But for others, this most dangerous hurdle is not a problem for Zhuang Jin, who has transmigrated and whose two souls are united; he is the most confident in overcoming it.

'So, for me, all the danger lies in the second stage!'

After Zhuang Jin had Xiao Linye reduced to ashes, the blue light he obtained was refined into the Xuan Tian Treasure Mirror. He also had it analyzed and simulated, setting conditions to ensure that the success rate of breaking through to the Yang God realm was 73% without considering the first and third stages.

This is actually a very high probability for others. Even for the five great clans of the Great Qian Dynasty, having the Yang God seed and using all sorts of resources to achieve this probability is something they would be laughing in their sleep.

However, for him, the probability was less than 80%, so what was the difference between that and courting death?
"It's not that I'm ungrateful. Versailles and all that—it's best if you don't encounter that 27% chance, but if you do, people can really die."

Zhuang Jin personally believes that it should be at least 90%, preferably 95% or 98%, otherwise she would not feel at ease.

'Back then, when I refined higher-level spiritual energy, I was at the Void Peak of the Second Yin God Realm. With the amplification, I could unleash a strike comparable to a half-step Yang God Realm expert. Once I break through to the Third Yin God Realm, it will be comparable to a strike from a Yang God Realm expert.'

"Now that I have reached the perfect level of the Yin Spirit Realm, with a profound foundation, I feel I could even fight that half-step Great Vajra Realm demon. I am now at the half-step Yang Spirit Realm level in terms of combat strength. If a higher level of power refined from spiritual energy were to amplify my power, and someone were to catch me off guard, I could probably severely injure even a true first-level Yang Spirit Realm or a Grandmaster of the Spirit Realm."

"There are still two higher-level energies remaining, and the Holy Spirit Pearl contains half spiritual energy. We are safe enough to protect ourselves. Let's wait and see, until we are more confident."

Zhuang Jin thought to himself, recalling the Xuan Tian Treasure Mirror's suggestions for increasing his success rate: special secret techniques to aid in breaking through to the Yang God realm, Yang Extreme Divine Objects, and tempering his mind.

'A special secret technique to aid in breaking through to the Yang God realm, specifically targeting the second stage of the three Yang God realms—Spiritual Abilities—is not available in the Immortal Ruins in the icy lake of the underground cave, presumably because the Immortal Ruins are not of a high enough level.'

"Furthermore, secret techniques are constantly being innovated, such as the 'Nine Revolutions Golden Body Technique' and the 'Ice Soul Glazed Body.' These are byproducts of the research conducted by aristocratic families over the past eight hundred years on how spiritual energy restricts physical transformation. The royal families and aristocratic families didn't live those eight hundred years for nothing; they probably possessed these techniques."

However, obtaining it from powerful clans is no easy task.

Compared to secret techniques, more direct methods involve Yang-type divine objects, which are available in various forms specifically targeting the spiritual aspect: Solar Essence, Golden Crow Feathers, Phoenix Rebirth Blood, Southern Bright Fire…

These are things that can only be encountered by chance; they depend on fate.

"The final step of tempering one's mindset offers the best value, but the concept of 'mindset' is truly mysterious and elusive."

Zhuang Jin recalled the description in the Black Fiend Technique: "Neither wind nor cloud, but the heart stirs; from the deepest void, spiritual light arises."

"In my personal understanding, the tests of mindset are also different. For example, the three innate barriers test one's ability to resist temptation and one's steadfastness in the Dao; the three barriers of the Yin spirit test one's ability to sense the inner demons after opening the Yin secrets, testing whether one's Dao heart is flawed; the three barriers of the Yang spirit test one's ability to be agile, which seems to be a kind of obsession, or something else positively related to one's mindset, such as hope, warmth, and justice?"

He murmured to himself, thinking of the people in Yunnan Prefecture, a feeling of longing rising in his heart, but he knew he could not go back, nor was it appropriate for him to go back.

hum!
With a flick of his divine soul power, the bluebird at the Vajra Realm flapped its wings and took flight.

"The journey to Penglai Mountain is not far, and the bluebird diligently goes to scout ahead... to scout ahead!"

Zhuang Jin sighed, gazing at the other person disappearing into the misty clouds, standing there for a long time.

……

Cangzhou, the capital of Yunnan Province.

Under the same sky covered with misty clouds, the heavy snowflakes fell in abundance, like dancing jade flowers.

Since Zhuang Jin left in the fifty-ninth year of the Qianyuan era, southern Yunnan has been peaceful and uneventful.

The Shen family remained the dominant force in Yunnan Prefecture, while the Mu family replaced the Medicine King Gang. With one family strong and the other weak, peace was restored through the departure of Zhuang Jin.

As for external threats?

For powerful families like the Shen and Mu families, who have innate advantages, trouble will generally not come their way at the prefecture level unless they have greater ambitions or are looking for trouble.

This is like a so-called Brahmin in a peaceful and stable environment who, instead of thinking about further transcending his class and losing his mind, goes looking for trouble and acts arrogantly in his locality.

Thus, for thirteen years, the capital of Yunnan Prefecture remained peaceful.

The Plum Garden in the inner courtyard of the Shen family is the place where Shen Xianhong, the former head of the Shen family, met Zhuang Jin three times.

Today, as snowflakes danced in the air, Shen Xianhong and Shen Xuchen sat facing each other, playing chess in the bamboo and wood pavilion, 'Taoguang Pavilion,' at the center of the garden.

The former has aged considerably. The white-browed patriarch, whom Zhuang Jin initially admired like a towering mountain, has now weakened with time, resembling an ordinary old man. The latter, on the other hand, has become increasingly mature through years of managing a powerful clan and handling all affairs of the household, displaying much of the former's youthful vigor.

This alternation of old and new is like the withering and flourishing of plants, and the waxing and waning of the moon, which cannot be changed by subjective will.

Halfway through the game, Shen Xianhong sacrificed a piece and stood up, saying, "Chen'er, there's no need for me to let you win. Your skills have reached a high level; I am no longer as good as you!"

Upon hearing this, Shen Xuchen, the eighth young master from back then, was momentarily dazed: that year, his father stood in a blue robe, full of vigor, and taught him a lesson by breaking a chessboard with a petal. Now, however, all that remained before him was an old man with white hair and beard, and an aura of death about him.

The overlap of these two thoughts overwhelmed him with a mix of emotions, leaving him unsure of what to feel. He could only say, "Father, what are you saying..."

Shen Xianhong raised his hand to stop the other person from speaking: "I have a premonition that my time is coming soon, in the next month or two. Chen'er, I have three things to tell you."

He was already quite old. During his trip to Fenggu, he was injured by the claws of the Windwing Thunder Tiger. Zhuang Jin gave him the Thunder Stone, but this man gave it to Shen Xuchen to widen his meridians. Now he is indeed nearing his end.

Shen Xuchen looked at his father, his lips moved, some words were on the tip of his tongue but he swallowed them back, and stood respectfully with his hands at his sides: "Father, please speak!"

"Firstly, those three should be well protected."

This refers to Shen Xujun, Mu Qing, and Chen Yun. After Zhuang Jin left, they could no longer be so free, and their travels to the counties below were protected by the Shen and Mu families.

This is indeed a form of protection, but it is also a kind of surveillance, to prevent some foolish people from doing things that are reckless and shouldn't be done, and also to prevent them from doing things that they shouldn't do.

Shen Xianhong and Mu Yuantu have seen too much and know the complexity of human nature. Even if they are deeply in love with Zhuang Jin, they cannot guarantee that their feelings will remain unchanged over time.

"Secondly, regarding the Mu family, even if there is an opportunity in the future, we must leave them a way out. At least as long as that person is around, we must do so."

This means that as long as Zhuang Jin is alive, out of respect for Mu Qing, or rather, out of respect for Zhuang Jin behind the scenes, he must be cautious in his dealings with the Mu family.

Thirdly, your fourth brother, after I leave, I hope you can spare his life.

Back then, the fourth young master Shen Xujing and the eighth young master Shen Xuchen were vying for the position of family head. Shen Xianhong tested their opinions on Zhuang Jin, and Shen Xuchen ultimately won, while the fourth young master Shen Xujing had his cultivation crippled and was imprisoned.

After that, Shen Xuchen broke through and became the head of the Shen family. He hasn't made a move in all these years, but if he doesn't make a move now, he might after Shen Xianhong leaves.

Shen Xianhong spoke in a commanding and instructive tone for the first two matters, but he used the word "hope" for the last one, making it sound more like a request.

Facing his father's gaze, Shen Xuchen lowered his eyelids and replied, "Father, I've remembered the first two things. As for the last one... as long as Fourth Brother behaves himself, our Shen family won't mind supporting another rich idler."

"Well, you go ahead!"

Shen Xianhong knew that this was the limit, so he waved his hand and let Shen Xuchen go.

At this moment, he was all alone. The howling wind and snow rushed in, bringing a chill that sobered him up. Perhaps it was the words he had just spoken that made him recall the past. The image of that spirited figure reappeared before his eyes. He remembered witnessing the other person's growth, their final parting, and their discussions about bloodlines, thoughts, and personal immortality.

After a long silence, a sigh echoed through the wind and snow: "Eternal life! Time!"

……

In the east of the city, on Fujing Street, is the small pavilion east of the bridge next to Vinegar Lord Lane, where Zhuang Jin lived during his time studying the Five Classics and Six Classics.

The layout here is exactly the same as when Zhuang Jin was here. Hanging in the pavilion is the portrait of Zhuang Jin and Chen Yun, painted by Chen Honggan after their trip to Vinegar Lane.

Chen Yun was pruning the bonsai. A good bonsai takes twenty or thirty years to grow, and after more than ten years, it had begun to take shape.

call!
A gust of wind blew in, and snow rushed in. She turned around to close the door, gazing at the snowflakes dancing in the air outside, momentarily lost in thought.

Time changes, and it seems like we've returned to that year, to the top of Lingyan Mountain in Linji County, under that huge Bodhi tree, where Zhuang Jin inscribed a couplet outside the pavilion. That day, the snow was falling like jade flowers, and the two of them held hands and watched the snow-covered mountains at dusk.

"Cough cough!"

Chen Yun clutched her chest and coughed.

……

The inner courtyard of the Shen family, a small courtyard.

Shen Xujun sat by the window, writing lines of delicate characters. The ink spread across the rice paper like her thoughts. When she finished writing and put the paper down, she raised her head slightly and looked at the snowy sky outside the window, feeling a sense of melancholy.

I long to send a letter, but there are no geese in the clouds.

Beside her, the letters she had written, which she could not send, and which she had stored here since Zhuang Jin left in the fifty-ninth year of the Qian Yuan era, had now piled up above her desk and were half a person high.

……

Mu family.

Wearing a snow-white fox fur coat, Mu Qing climbed alone to the top of the building and gazed in the direction of the city.

The conversation from our small gathering a few days ago still rings in my ears.

—After Zhuang Jin left, Chen Yun, Mu Qing, and Shen Xujun became quite close over the years because they shared a common man, because of their years of friendship, and because Mu Qing promised Zhuang Jin to help Chen Yun take care of and protect the family.

"For the past four or five years, there has been no news from my husband in the prefecture."

"No news is the best news. I suppose my husband will be heading to the capital soon."

"Yes."

Shen Xujun paused for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Before you go to the capital, will you come back once?"

Chen Yun remained silent, her head slightly shaking.

Mu Qing gave the answer on behalf of others: "I'm afraid that's not the case."

She was very clear about the plan she had made, and knew that Zhuang Jin could not come back, nor could she come back—she could not come back to keep him out of danger; she could not come back because if she came back and saw him, he would probably be reluctant to leave, or he would have to take them with him.

As for when Zhuang Jin will return?
Mu Qing thought proudly to herself, with absolute certainty and without a trace of doubt, and gently uttered four words: "Number one in the world."

……

Under the heavy snow, which was as fluffy as reeds and as delicate as goose feathers, a bluebird broke through the wind and snow on the horizon.

……

(End of this chapter)