Immortality and cultivation begin with full comprehension.

Chapter 763 Understanding All Living Beings, Firming One's Dao Heart (Seeking Monthly Tickets)
Four guards stood at the gate, all of them at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage, with "Yuan Yang Tokens" hanging from their waists, their eyes scanning the passersby warily.

Li Yunjing did not approach, but instead chose a teahouse directly opposite "Baicaotang". He asked for a window seat on the second floor, ordered a pot of spiritual tea, and slowly sipped it, but his eyes never left the scene across the street.

There weren't many customers in the teahouse; most of them were low-level cultivators, chatting idly in twos and threes.

Li Yunjing quietly spread his divine sense, capturing fragments of conversations around him.

"...I heard that 'Bai Cao Tang' has recently been buying up large quantities of 'Blood Spirit Grass' at a price 30% higher than the market price..."

"Shh! Keep your voice down! That kind of spiritual herb is the main ingredient for refining the 'Blood Essence Pill,' so the Dao Sect must have a special purpose in buying it..."

“I have a cousin who works as a handyman at ‘Bai Cao Tang’. He said that recently the security inside the hall has been very tight, and even ordinary disciples are not allowed to approach the inner courtyard.”

……

These fragmented pieces of information were pieced together in Li Yunjing's mind, gradually forming a blurry picture.

"Blood Spirit Grass", "Blood Essence Pill", "Heavily Guarded"... These keywords, when strung together, point to a possibility.

The Yuanyang Dao Sect is secretly preparing some kind of formation or magical artifact related to blood and qi.

And this is very likely the source of Xuanzhenzi's confidence in "certain victory".
Just as Li Yunjing was pondering, the door of "Bai Cao Tang" suddenly opened, and a group of cultivators dressed in gray robes walked out quickly.

The leader was a middle-aged man with a sinister face, a crimson token hanging from his waist, and his aura had reached the seventh level of the Golden Core realm.

He was followed by more than ten disciples, each holding a sealed jade box with talismans affixed to the surface, clearly containing important items.

"It's Elder Chen!"

Someone in the teahouse whispered, "He personally escorted it; this batch of spiritual herbs must be extraordinary..."

Li Yunjing's gaze sharpened, and he quietly extended his divine sense, attempting to examine the items inside the jade box.

However, the moment his divine sense touched the surface of the jade box, it was repelled by a restriction.

At the same time, Manager Chen seemed to sense something and suddenly turned his head to look in the direction of the teahouse, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes.

Li Yunjing immediately withdrew his divine sense and pretended to be nonchalant as he lowered his head to drink his tea.

Manager Chen looked around suspiciously, but found nothing amiss. He then led his team away hastily, heading straight for the city lord's mansion.

"Such keen perception..."

Li Yunjing became secretly wary.

Although Manager Chen's cultivation level was only at the seventh level of the Golden Core realm, his sensitivity to divine sense was comparable to that of a cultivator at the ninth level of the Golden Core realm, clearly indicating that he had cultivated a special perception technique.

"It seems that 'Bai Cao Tang' does indeed hold a secret."

He put down his teacup and decided to change his plans.

Originally, I planned to infiltrate "Hundred Herbs Hall" three days later as a merchant of medicinal herbs, but now it seems that the other party is heavily guarded and ordinary methods will not work.

We need to find another way.

After paying the bill and leaving the teahouse, Li Yunjing wandered around the city a few times. After confirming that no one was following him, he arrived at an inn called "Zui Xian Ju".

This is one of the "Wanfa Society's" hidden agents in "Luoyun City," and the manager is a spy planted by the "Shenxiao Dao Sect" in its early years.

"Sir, would you like to stay at the inn?"

The old man behind the counter looked up at Li Yunjing, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his cloudy eyes.

"I need a quiet, superior room, preferably with a view of the east side of the city."

Li Yunjing handed over three mid-grade spirit stones, tapping them lightly on the counter with his fingertips, the rhythm subtly matching the communication code of the "Shenxiao Dao Sect".

The old man remained expressionless, accepted the spirit stones, and then took out a copper key: "Room number three, with a window facing east street and a wide view."

After taking the keys, Li Yunjing went straight upstairs.

The room was small but neatly furnished, and the window did indeed offer a panoramic view of the eastern street scene, including the "Bai Cao Tang" in the distance.

As soon as he closed the door, the wall next to the bed silently slid open, revealing a hidden compartment.

In the hidden compartment were a jade slip and a set of black night clothes.

The jade slip contained detailed information about the Yuanyang Dao Sect in Luoyun City, collected by the Wanfa Association. This included the architectural layout of the Baicao Hall, the guard rotation schedule, and even the markings of several secret passages.

"Truly professional..."

Li Yunjing quickly scanned the contents of the jade slip, a slight smile playing on his lips.

The intelligence work of the "Wanfa Society" is indeed outstanding; they even know the secret passages in the inner courtyard of the "Baicaotang" very well.

According to the jade slip, there is a secret alchemy room in the underground of "Hundred Herbs Hall" that is used to refine special pills. Recently, Golden Core cultivators have been frequently seen entering and leaving, suggesting that they are preparing for a large-scale operation.

"It seems I'll have to go there myself."

As night fell, Li Yunjing changed into his night clothes and quietly left the inn.

His figure moved like a ghost through the shadows, avoiding the patrolling monks, and soon arrived at the back wall of "Hundred Herbs Hall".

The wall is five zhang high and its surface is engraved with protective runes, making it difficult for ordinary cultivators to climb over.

But for Li Yunjing, these restrictions were meaningless.

He gathered a wisp of spiritual energy at his fingertips and gently touched the rune node, causing a brief gap to appear in the restriction.

With a flash, he had already scaled the high wall and landed in the inner courtyard.

The courtyard was quiet and still, with only a few spirit lamps emitting a faint light.

Following the route in the jade slip, Li Yunjing avoided the patrolling guards and quickly found the entrance to the underground.

A hidden door behind an artificial hill.

The hidden door is equipped with a mechanism that requires specific techniques to open.

This was no problem for Li Yunjing, who was proficient in formations. He quickly deciphered the mechanism by circulating spiritual energy at his fingertips.

The hidden door slid open silently, revealing a downward stone staircase.

At the end of the stone steps was a spacious underground alchemy room.

In the center of the alchemy room stood three enormous alchemy furnaces, their flames roaring and radiating intense heat.

The shelves around the room were filled with all kinds of spiritual herbs and elixirs, including many rare varieties.

The most eye-catching item was a sealed jade cabinet in the corner, with several talismans pasted on the cabinet door, clearly indicating that it contained extremely important items.

Five cultivators were busy inside the alchemy room. Three of them were looking after the alchemy furnace, while two were preparing spiritual herbs.

Their cultivation levels were all at the peak of Foundation Establishment, and they were dressed in the robes of inner disciples of the "Yuanyang Dao Sect," with "Baicaotang" tokens hanging from their waists.

Li Yunjing concealed himself and quietly approached the jade cabinet.

He cautiously extended his divine sense, avoiding the protection of the talismans, to examine the items inside the cabinet.

Dozens of jade bottles were neatly arranged in the cabinet, each labeled with the words "Blood Essence Pill".

Below the jade bottle, there was also a scroll of animal hide drawings, on which a complex array pattern was drawn.

"This is... a 'blood sacrifice formation'?"

Li Yunjing's pupils contracted slightly.

He had seen this formation in ancient books before; it was an evil formation that used the essence and blood of cultivators to forcibly enhance combat power.

Although it is extremely powerful, it comes at a very high cost, usually requiring the sacrifice of a large number of low-level cultivators.

"No wonder Xuanzhenzi is so confident..."

Li Yunjing sneered inwardly.

The so-called "inevitable victory" plan of the Yuanyang Dao Sect was actually intended to use the "Blood Sacrifice Array" to forcibly enhance combat power and crush the Zhao Clan Immortal Sect in one fell swoop!
While this method is effective, it is too insidious, and once exposed, it will surely arouse public outrage.

"It seems we need to reassess our cooperation with the Yuanyang Dao Sect."

As Li Yunjing was pondering, the door to the alchemy room suddenly opened, and Steward Chen walked in with a gloomy face.

"Speed ​​up! All 'Blood Essence Pills' must be refined within three days!"

He shouted sternly, "The sect leader has ordered that we hand over three thousand pills!"

"Yes!"

The disciples quickly responded, and their hands moved even faster.

Manager Chen walked to the jade cabinet, took out a bottle of "Blood Essence Pills", examined it carefully, and nodded in satisfaction.

Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly frowned and looked around the alchemy room with suspicion.

"Strange... why is there an unfamiliar fluctuation of spiritual energy..."

Li Yunjing felt a chill run down his spine and immediately concealed his aura, disappearing into the shadows.

"Maybe I'm just too tired..."

Manager Chen searched without success, then shook his head and turned to leave.

Once the alchemy room returned to calm, Li Yunjing did not linger and quietly withdrew.

He needed to relay this intelligence back to the "Shenxiao Dao Sect" as soon as possible to reassess the level of support for the "Yuanyang Dao Sect".

If the Yuanyang Dao Sect truly intends to use the Blood Sacrifice Array, then the Shenxiao Dao Sect must not collude with them, otherwise they will inevitably be tainted by karma and will find it difficult to escape reckoning in the future!
As night deepened, Li Yunjing's figure disappeared like a ghost into the streets and alleys of "Luoyun City".

An even bigger storm is brewing...

After leaving Luoyun City, Li Yunjing prepared to visit the capital of the Great Yuan Dynasty!

Although the border city was an important border town with a very high status, it was still far from the border of the "Zhao State".

Li Yunjing was also unsure whether the "Yuanyang Dao Sect" was recruiting rogue cultivators for a blood sacrifice.

He needs to get definite information!

The Great Yuan Dynasty stretched 50,000 li from north to south and 80,000 li from east to west. Although its territory seemed vast, it was still an ordinary country in the entire Southern Continent and not a large one.

After traveling at breakneck speed, Li Yunjing finally arrived in the capital after seven days.

The capital city is very prosperous, with a constant flow of cars and people, shoulder to shoulder, and a never-ending stream of traffic.

Li Yunjing walked along the street, blending into this bustling world like any ordinary person. Everywhere he looked, there were delicious foods, with vendors loudly hawking their wares.

Li Yunjing put aside his worries and casually bought some steamed buns, spring rolls, candied hawthorns, and fried meat on the street...

The various snacks reminded him of his life eighty years ago when he was still an ordinary person.

He took a bite of the bun and nodded slightly: "It does have a unique flavor."

The taste wasn't great, not comparable to the exquisite banquets of those culinary masters, but after eating so much meat and fish, a bite of pickled vegetable pancakes was a refreshing change.

Since entering the cultivation world, Li Yunjing has always focused on cultivation. This is the first time he has ever mingled in the mortal world like this.

"On the path to immortality, bones serve as boats; when will all the hardships end?"

Li Yunjing couldn't help but feel a sense of emotion.

"The mortal world has its troubles, but the immortal path also holds its joys."

He immediately shook his head.

The greatest suffering for mortals is birth, aging, sickness, and death; although cultivators endure arduous cultivation and face endless tribulations, they can ultimately gain extraordinary power and a long life!
In the end, I still came out ahead!

Having experienced the benefits of cultivation, Li Yunjing can easily make choices!
Regardless, he was still willing to become a monk.

"Mayflies flutter their white wings, taking life and death lightly from dawn till dusk."

"Thin wings rest on the cold dew, faint light travels along the moon."

"Once I enter the world of cultivation, I will definitely pursue the path to immortality and will not want to reincarnate in obscurity."

He remained silent.

In the capital city, amidst the bustling world of mortals.

There was no deliberate distancing, no proactive integration; everything unfolded naturally.

Li Yunjing held the string of candied hawthorns coated with glistening sugar frosting, the sweet and sour taste of hawthorns melting on his tongue, carrying a hint of rustic, smoky flavor.

This was a taste experience he had never had in his eighty years of cultivation.

In the past, what entered our mouths were either spirit fruits that tempered the spirit or refined elixirs, each bite carrying a clear "benefit purpose," but lacking this kind of purity that had nothing to do with cultivation and only concerned with "taste."

He walked slowly along the cobblestone path of the market, next to an old man pushing a cart selling tofu pudding, the copper ladles on the cart making a crisp clinking sound.

At the alleyway ahead, a flower-selling girl was handing a bunch of wild chrysanthemums covered in morning dew to a woman in plain clothes. The woman smiled and handed over a few copper coins, her eyes filled with satisfaction.

Not far away, in the blacksmith's shop, sparks flew as red-hot iron billets were hammered. The blacksmith's shouts mingled with the laughter of children, weaving a vivid net that gently enveloped him, the "outsider."

"Cultivators always say that the mortal world is a 'quagmire' and an 'obstacle on the path to immortality'."

Li Yunjing watched as the grandfather and grandson sat on the stone steps not far away, sharing a wheat cake. The old man handed the larger piece to his grandson, while he only ate the edges. Suddenly, a thought struck him: "But it is in these 'bonds' that the true meaning of life is found."

He recalled the scene he saw in the underground alchemy room of "Luoyun City": sealed jade bottles contained "Blood Essence Pills" refined using evil methods, and animal hide drawings depicted "Blood Sacrifice Arrays" that devoured the essence and blood of cultivators. In order to defeat "Zhao State", "Yuanyang Dao Sect" was willing to use the lives of hundreds of thousands of low-level cultivators as "fuel".

Those recruited rogue cultivators may have once hoped, like ordinary people in the market, to exchange their battle merits for a spiritual pill and a place to settle down, but little did they know that they had already become stepping stones on the path of others' advancement.

"What is the ultimate purpose of cultivating immortality and seeking eternal life?"

Li Yunjing raised his hand to brush away a ginkgo leaf that had fallen onto his shoulder; the leaf still carried the warmth of autumn.

He recalled that when he first entered the Divine Firmament Dao Sect, the sect's seniors had told him: "The path to immortality is long. If you only pursue your own selfish desires, how are you any different from a demonic cultivator?"

At that time, he only knew how to bury himself in cultivation, thinking about breaking through the realm as soon as possible to protect himself; later, when he took charge of the sect's affairs, he realized the weight of the word "protection".

They protect their sect, protect the six domains, and even more so, protect these seemingly ordinary lives that are living earnestly.

"Ugh……"

All the insights ultimately turned into a long sigh.

People in the arena involuntarily.

In this treacherous and strife-filled world of cultivation, how easy is it to pursue the dream of soaring across the azure seas and riding dragons at dawn, and sleeping under the moon in Kunlun at dusk?
Even if Li Yunjing were to cultivate to an invincible level one day, he would still have many ties around him, and roaming freely beyond the world would still seem like an unattainable dream.

"Though the path to immortality is long, one must not forget one's roots; though the mortal world is short, true feelings still exist."

It was late at night, and there was no one left on the street. Li Yunjing looked up at the night sky, where the stars had quietly risen.

He gripped the long sword at his waist, his previously heavy heart, burdened by the investigation of the conspiracy, now filled with a newfound resolve.

The path he chooses is not the evil one like the "Yuanyang Dao Sect," but a righteous one that embraces all living beings and protects the common people.

Li Yunjing stood on a quiet street in the capital, the night wind carrying the faint sound of a night watchman's clapper from afar.

The hustle and bustle of the mortal world, the vividness of everyday life, and the cold cruelty of the "blood sacrifice array" he saw in his consciousness created an incredibly strong impact.

On one side are vibrant lives, the warmth of everyday life, and the inheritance and hope; on the other side are cold calculations, ruthless sacrifices, and a wicked shortcut to power.

"The path to immortality...the mortal realm..."

He murmured to himself, the two words colliding and intertwining in his mind.

For a long time, cultivators have regarded the mortal world as something to be ashamed of, and have been determined to transcend it and seek their own carefree and immortal life.

But if this path to immortality is paved with the bones of the innocent and stained with the blood of those who share the same path, then what difference is there between such immortality and that of a wandering ghost?
To live as long as heaven and earth, yet be an enemy of all living beings—is such eternity not the greatest prison?

"The way I seek should not be like this."

A thought, like moonlight breaking through the dark clouds, suddenly illuminated his mind.

guard!

It's not just about protecting the sect's heritage, guarding a region's territory, or safeguarding one's own path.

It also protects the lights that are about to go out on this long street, the warmth of sharing wheat cakes on the stone steps, the sparks that fly in the blacksmith's shop, and the wild chrysanthemums with dew in the flower girl's basket...

Protect every ordinary life in this bustling world, every life that strives to live and spreads its glimmer of light.

This is not a hindrance, but a foundation.

The path to immortality is ethereal; without the nourishment of mortal life, it is like a tree without roots, destined to wither in the heavens.

The Tao is profound and mysterious. Without reverence for the joys and sorrows of all living beings, it is like water without a source, inevitably becoming turbid in the midst of slaughter.

"My way is not to abandon emotions and desires, but to engage with the world and protect life."

"Longevity is not about monopolizing the seasons, but about witnessing and protecting the beauty of life for more people."

As soon as this thought arose, Li Yunjing felt a jolt throughout his body!
The previously stable mental sea within the body suddenly boiled over, surging like a river and crashing against the brain.

Within his body, the Dragon-Tiger Golden Core spun rapidly, and the invisible bottleneck that had blocked him for years now emitted a faint "crackling" sound, revealing fine cracks.

The surrounding spiritual energy of heaven and earth converged wildly towards him, forming an invisible vortex that surged into his limbs and bones.

His divine sense spread outward at an unprecedented speed, clearly "seeing" the birds sleeping peacefully under the eaves in the distance, seeing the throbbing of seeds sprouting in the soil, and even feeling the breath of time that had settled in the bricks and stones of this ancient capital.

A clear, harmonious, and firm power surged from the depths of my soul, cleansing my entire body.

The bottleneck was broken immediately!

Li Yunjing's spiritual power was already infinitely close to the Nascent Soul realm!

It happened naturally and without any hindrance.

He didn't even deliberately exert his internal energy to break through; it was merely a thorough understanding and firming of his Dao heart that triggered a natural advancement in his cultivation realm.

The surging spiritual energy gradually calmed down, becoming more condensed and pure. The range of his divine sense expanded by nearly double, reaching two hundred miles. His perception of the spiritual energy of heaven and earth also became clearer and more acute.

Li Yunjing slowly opened his eyes, his gaze more profound and serene than ever before, though the light in his eyes was restrained.

The night wind lifted the hem of Li Yunjing's clothes as he stood in the middle of the deserted street, feeling the subtle tremors of the golden core within his body.

After the bottleneck that had troubled him for years was completely shattered, faint golden patterns appeared on the surface of the Dragon-Tiger Golden Core. The patterns intertwined to form the two characters "Protect Life," appearing and disappearing with the flow of spiritual energy.

This is not a deliberate depiction, but a natural manifestation of the resonance between the Dao heart and cultivation, a Dao mark left on the Golden Elixir by the thought of "entering the world to protect life".

He raised his hand and gently clenched it, gathering a wisp of spiritual power at his fingertips. It was no longer the pure lightning or the power of the five elements as before, but rather carried a warm "life force".

This is the transformation that comes with spiritual power after experiencing the mundane world.

Previously, when he manipulated lightning magic, it always carried a chilling killing intent; now, when he draws upon spiritual power, he can conceal gentleness within his sharpness, capable of both dispelling evil and protecting life.

"The key to breakthroughs is not in accumulating resources, but in having a clear mind and a clear understanding of the Dao."

Li Yunjing gazed at the shimmering light flowing from his fingertips, and a sudden realization dawned on him.

In the past, in order to break through to the Nascent Soul stage, he was obsessed with collecting rare materials and refining the purity of his Golden Core, but he neglected the fundamental question of "why break through".

If one only seeks greater combat power, how is one different from the cultivators of the "Yuanyang Dao Sect" who use evil methods to enhance their cultivation?
Only when we clearly understand that "breakthroughs are for the purpose of protecting more lives" will the path truly be clear.

He spread his divine sense again, this time not to investigate a conspiracy, but out of reverence for life.

The scenery within two hundred miles was clearly reflected in my mind.

In a dilapidated temple in the south of the city, two beggars were sharing half a moldy cake. Although they looked hungry, they kept refusing to give it to each other.

In the back alley of the pharmacy in the west of the city, an old doctor hurriedly carried his medicine box to a patient's home, the glow of his lantern swaying in the night.

Even three feet underground, several ants are working together to carry a single grass seed, storing food for the cold winter.

These “tiny lives” that he had previously ignored were now incredibly vivid in his consciousness.

Li Yunjing suddenly understood that the so-called "six-domain joint defense" was never as simple as guarding the spiritual veins and cities, but rather guarding the "hope of life" of the entire Southern Heaven Continent.

The Yuanyang Dao Sect views low-level cultivators as "fuel," forgetting that cultivators originally come from the mortal world. If even the faint light in the mortal world is extinguished, the path to immortality will eventually lead to its demise.

"It's time to head to Burning Sky Peak."

Li Yunjing withdrew his divine sense, took a light step, and his figure floated towards the end of the street like a willow catkin.

At this moment, he no longer needed to deliberately conceal his aura.

After gaining enlightenment, his spiritual power merged with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. As he walked, he could even stir up a gentle breeze around him, automatically concealing his presence. This made him appear more natural and composed than his previous night clothes and methods of breaking the restrictions.

At the summit of "Burning Heaven Peak," amidst swirling clouds and mist, the outline of the "Yuanyang Dao Sect" headquarters resembles a lurking giant beast. The fiery red palaces are built against the mountain, and the copper bells hanging under the eaves move automatically without wind, emitting a dull "clanging" sound that faintly resonates with the spiritual energy fluctuations emanating from the ground.

In front of the mountain gate, two towering stone beasts with fire patterns had crimson eyes and were surrounded by a faint blood-red spiritual aura.

That was a phenomenon that could only occur after being immersed in pure Yang energy for a long time. Before Li Yunjing even stepped into the mountain gate, he could already feel a scorching oppression.

(End of this chapter)