Primordial Era: Reborn as a Qi Immortal, Steadily Cultivating

Chapter 14 Taking in another boy
In the cave.

A solitary lamp illuminates ancient scrolls, and the years stretch on endlessly.

Ma Yuan's teachings to Shi Ji have continued for hundreds of years.

Shi Ji's foundation in Dao is already solid. She only needs to cultivate step by step, and breaking through to the Xuanxian realm in the future will be a natural outcome.

Ma Yuan then stopped preaching day after day and let her go into seclusion to comprehend it on her own.

Inside the cave, the tranquility of the past was restored once again.

On this day, Ma Yuan sat cross-legged on a futon and looked inward at himself.

Within the Purple Mansion's sea of ​​consciousness, the dazzling Golden Immortal Dao Fruit, after this period of sedimentation and the insights gained from being a teacher, appeared increasingly perfect and flawless, its radiance restrained.

He could feel it clearly.

He was getting closer and closer to the threshold of the mid-stage Golden Immortal realm.

It's as if there's only a thin layer of paper separating us, enough to break through at any moment.

However, this thin sheet of paper is exceptionally tough.

No matter how he circulated his magical power or how he comprehended the Dao, he was always just missing that one crucial opportunity.

"The path of cultivation requires a balance of tension and relaxation. Reinventing the wheel behind closed doors will ultimately have limitations."

Ma Yuan slowly opened his eyes, as if he had realized something.

He recalled a saying he had heard in his previous life: "By reviewing the old and learning the new, one can become a teacher."

Teaching Shiji himself was a process of reviewing and learning new things, and it did indeed bring him great benefits.

In that case, why not expand the scope further?
An idea suddenly came to mind.

Today, Skull Mountain is no longer the menacing place it once was.

Nourished by the many spiritual roots and immortal plants he planted.

The spiritual energy here is becoming increasingly abundant, and life is flourishing.

It has long attracted many birds and beasts, and plant spirits have multiplied and thrived here.

These creatures, though lacking in intelligence, listen day and night to the Taoist chants in the mountains, unknowingly embarking on the path of cultivation.

"Why don't I open an altar and preach once, and tell the myriad spirits of Skull Mountain about the beginning of the immortal path?"

A glint of light flashed in Ma Yuan's eyes.

This action allows one to review and consolidate what they have learned.

Perhaps the opportunity for a breakthrough can be found in the process of teaching and imparting knowledge.

Secondly, it can also be considered as establishing a positive connection for this Buddhist temple.

These creatures were born here, grew up here, and are connected to the fate of Skull Mountain.

If one day I can enlighten and train a few loyal guardian spirit beasts or sweeping boys, it will greatly benefit my steady and great cause.

Having thought of this, Ma Yuan no longer hesitated.

With a thought, a peaceful and vast divine power spread from the White Bone Cave to every corner of Skull Mountain in an instant, like a gentle spring breeze and nourishing rain.

"I am the Lord of Skull Mountain, the Immortal Ma Yuan. I am deeply moved by the profound desire of all living beings on this mountain to seek the Dao. Three months from now, I will open an altar outside the White Bone Cave to preach the Dao. All living beings in the mountain are welcome to come and listen to my teachings."

This voice was not as majestic and vast as the Dao Ancestor's decree, but it still contained a trace of Daoist charm.

In an instant, the entire Skull Mountain erupted in chaos.

In the mountains and forests, a tiger chasing its prey suddenly stopped, a hint of human-like excitement flashing in its bewildered eyes.

Beside the stream, a Ganoderma lucidum, bathed in moonlight, emits a faint glow, seemingly rejoicing.

On the cliff face, a sleeping eagle suddenly opened its eyes and let out a clear cry that pierced through the clouds and split the rocks.

Countless creatures still living in ignorance.

At this moment, everyone felt the throbbing and longing from the depths of their blood.

That is the yearning for the Tao, an unparalleled opportunity!

March passed in the blink of an eye.

On this day, the sky was just beginning to lighten.

The open space outside the White Bone Cave was already bustling with activity, yet also quiet and solemn.

Thousands of creatures gathered from all directions of the mountain range.

There are tigers, leopards, wolves, and tigers with glossy fur; there are bears, monkeys, and other large animals; and there are colorful birds and animals.

There are even some plant spirits that have just developed intelligence and are not yet able to move.

They all converge here in various ways.

They lay prostrate on the ground in an orderly fashion according to their respective groups, their spiritual eyes filled with awe and anticipation as they gazed at the tightly closed cave entrance.

Shi Ji, dressed in a green robe, stood gracefully in front of the cave entrance, maintaining order.

Looking at the scene of all spirits coming to pay homage before her, her reverence for her husband deepened even further.

"Squeak-"

The cave gate slowly opened.

Ma Yuan, dressed in a simple Taoist robe, walked out slowly. He did not deliberately exude any pressure, but the aura of a perfectly formed Golden Immortal Dao Fruit still made all the living beings present involuntarily lower their heads even further.

He walked to a high platform that had been prepared beforehand and sat down cross-legged.

His gaze swept calmly over the faces below, each one filled with longing.

"There are three thousand great paths, but they all lead to the same destination. Today, I will explain to you the method of foundation building and the way of transformation."

Ma Yuan did not explain those profound and mysterious principles.

What he spoke of were the most basic and fundamental methods of spiritual practice.

How to draw qi into the body, how to refine the demon core, how to temper the soul, how to protect oneself during the tribulation of transformation...

His voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached the ears of every living being.

There were no fantastical phenomena or miraculous golden lotuses springing from the ground.

Yes, but as he narrated, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth throughout Skull Mountain began to flow slowly in a mysterious rhythm.

Strands of pure spiritual energy, drawn by his voice, flowed into the bodies of the creatures who came to listen, cleansing their meridians and awakening their intelligence.

The countless creatures below listened with rapt attention.

Some of those with higher spiritual intelligence have begun to learn the methods taught by Ma Yuan, practicing cross-legged breathing exercises.

Some who were stuck in a bottleneck suddenly had a breakthrough and their spirits rose steadily.

This sermon lasted for three hundred years.

Three hundred years is but a fleeting moment in the vast universe.

But for the creatures of Skull Mountain, it was nothing short of a supreme creation, a rebirth of the world.

When Ma Yuan stopped preaching and announced the end of the session.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

On the open ground, the sounds of breakthroughs rose and fell incessantly.

Dozens of heavenly tribulations of varying sizes descended upon Skull Mountain almost simultaneously!
For a moment, there were lightning, thunder, and strong winds.

However, within the Daoist temple of Ma Yuan, a powerful Golden Immortal, the power of these heavenly tribulations was weakened by several percent invisibly.

Those beings who have listened to the teachings for three hundred years and have long since mastered the art of transformation.

They all displayed their unique abilities, some using their powerful physical bodies to withstand the attack, others using their innate supernatural powers to resolve it.

In the end, most of them successfully survived the heavenly tribulation, shed their beastly forms, and transformed into Taoists of various shapes and sizes.

The entire Skull Mountain suddenly became bustling and filled with a mystical aura.

Countless newly transformed demons respectfully kowtowed nine times to Ma Yuan on the high platform to express their gratitude for his teachings.

Ma Yuan's gaze swept over the area, and he was quite satisfied.

In this sermon, he reorganized what he had learned.

The bottleneck that had been preventing him from breaking through still existed, but it had become much looser.

More importantly, he sowed countless seeds of loyalty for his dojo.

His gaze lingered on two figures among the many newly transformed demons below.

One was a burly, simple-minded black bear spirit.

The other was a nimble and quick-witted eagle demon.

These two demons were the most attentive when listening to the lecture, and their foundation was the most solid.

After transforming into human form, he had already reached the level of an Earth Immortal.

"You two, come forward," Ma Yuan said calmly.

Upon hearing this, the black bear demon and the eagle demon were overjoyed and hurriedly scrambled down to the foot of the platform to kowtow once more.

"This little demon Black Wind (Cangyun) greets the Mountain Lord!"

Ma Yuan nodded slightly and flicked his sleeve.

Two fragrant fairy fruits and two low-grade acquired magic treasures flew to them.

"This is the Crimson Blood Fruit, which can strengthen your foundation. This treasure is also bestowed upon you for protection."

"From this day forward, you two will remain outside my White Bone Cave as my mountain guardians. Are you willing?"

Black Wind and Azure Cloud were so excited that they trembled all over, almost unable to believe their ears.

This is an incredibly fortunate connection with the gods!

"Willing! Willing! This humble demon is willing to die for you, sir!" The two kowtowed repeatedly, carefully putting away the magical treasure and immortal fruit as if they were precious jewels.

Only then did Ma Yuan's White Bone Cave begin to resemble a celestial abode.

There were stewards and boys.

There are countless educated beings.

Looking at the thriving scene before him, Ma Yuan felt a sense of peace.

(End of this chapter)