I'm already a Great Luo Golden Immortal, how come you're only Martial Saints?

"The higher-ups are a bit worried. The difficulty of the Journey to the West Divine Realm is increasing. If they can't get past the fifth level, should they consider leaving a legacy on Earth first, just in case..."

Luo didn't finish his sentence, but Ning Chen understood the subtext in his words.

To date, only one person has appeared in the Journey to the West Divine Realm. If he unfortunately perishes during the conquest of the Divine Realm...

Who knows when we'll be able to come up with another person like him?

But is this the fifth floor?

Ning Chen understood that, barring any unforeseen circumstances, it would most likely be the ordeal at Guanyin Temple.

If it were just a matter of fighting Elder Jinchi, that would be manageable.

The real fear is that they might provoke the Black Bear Spirit of Black Wind Mountain, who would be difficult to deal with.

The Black Bear Spirit was able to fight Sun Wukong for several rounds. He was thick-skinned and had considerable skills, and even the Monkey King couldn't do anything about him.

Finally, having no other choice, Sun Wukong went to the Purple Bamboo Forest in the South China Sea and asked Guanyin Bodhisattva for help. Only then did he manage to subdue the black bear spirit by putting a binding spell on it and making it the guardian spirit of the Purple Bamboo Forest in the South China Sea!

It should be known that Guanyin Bodhisattva has extremely high standards, and ordinary demons are simply not worthy of her attention.

Just like General Yin, Lord Xiongshan, and Master Te in the first level, they died and that was that.

The three hoops bestowed by Buddha, namely "Golden," "Tight," and "Forbidden," were used by Guanyin on Sun Wukong, Red Boy, and Black Bear Spirit, respectively.

Even if an ordinary demon wanted those three hoops, Guanyin wouldn't bother to give them to it.

It is evident that this black bear spirit, taking advantage of the Guanyin Temple, has cultivated for thousands of years and possesses extraordinary strength, making him truly difficult to deal with.

Their journey to the West to obtain Buddhist scriptures has been met with ambiguity from the Buddhist community, and this hurdle is bound to be fraught with difficulties.

However, there is still a year before we can conquer the fifth level of the Divine Realm, and there is still much to be done.

Ning Chen remained noncommittal, saying calmly.

"It's hard to say, but most likely I'll go to a Buddhist temple and discuss Zen with the old Zen master..."

Luo immediately perked up. As the abbot of Shaolin Temple, a Buddhist temple was right up his alley.

Although he suppressed Shaolin with force, he was also somewhat knowledgeable about Buddhist scriptures.

If it really doesn't make sense, the Vajra Palm technique is also a method. It knocked out the old Zen master's teeth and left him speechless. Naturally, he couldn't win the argument about Zen!

Luo suddenly felt confident, and he patted Ning Chen on the shoulder, revealing a set of snow-white teeth.

"A Buddhist temple? This fifth challenge is exactly what I specialize in. Just wait and see what I'm capable of!"

After saying that, Lao Luo happily went to communicate with the senior management.

Ning Chen secretly shook his head. Elder Jinchi had lived for over two hundred years and could discuss scriptures with the Black Bear Spirit in his daily life. He must not be an ordinary person.

If it really comes down to a fight, Lao Luo might not be able to beat his opponent.

The next day, Ning Chen applied to go to the Divine Realm Treasure Vault. Now, every time he returns to Blue Star, which is the lower realm that the ancestor calls it, the ancestor will ask him for a gift of tuition, seemingly jokingly but also seriously.

Ning Chen knew that this was Bodhi Patriarch, who truly regarded him as a true disciple.

The patriarch never made any demands on his monkey senior brother, but simply entrusted him with a task.

As for Ning Chen, however, he was truly dedicated to teaching him, planning for his future, and guiding him through difficulties.

Both out of courtesy and reason, Ning Chen should bring a gift for the patriarch, regardless of its value, as long as it brings a smile to the patriarch's face.

The mundane world is probably not worth the ancestor's attention. Blue Star only has the treasure vault of the divine realm, so perhaps there is something else that the ancestor might even notice.

The next day, Ning Chen wandered around the treasure vault for a long time but couldn't find any treasures that caught his eye.

Finally, he arrived at the area in the treasure vault specifically for storing rare and ancient books.

These are mostly fragments and rare manuscripts passed down from ancient times. Many of the texts have long been lost, and their value is immeasurable. However, because they cannot be deciphered, they are kept on high shelves.

Ning Chen's divine sense, like the most sophisticated scanner, swept across rows of ancient scrolls.

Suddenly, a silk book made of neither gold nor jade, with an ancient and worn appearance, caught his attention.

The cover features the seal script characters "Zhouyi Cantongqi" (周易参同契).

Ning Chen's heart stirred.

He had heard of this book in his previous life. It was hailed as the "Eternal Classic of Alchemy." Although it was not a cultivation manual, it deeply explored the principles of Yin and Yang, the union of dragon and tiger, and the combination of lead and mercury, pointing directly to the fundamentals of internal alchemy cultivation and external alchemy refining.

The original text has long been lost, and what has been passed down to later generations are mostly annotated versions.

Although the silk book in front of me is tattered and the characters are blurred in many places, the ancient Taoist charm flowing on it is undeniable. If I'm not mistaken, it is the original!

"The Patriarch was well-versed in the ways of heaven and earth and deeply studied all the laws. These classic texts that expound on the origin of the Great Dao must have caught his eye."

Ning Chen chose the Book of Changes and the Book of Changes without hesitation.

Ning Chen spent only fifty points to leave the secret vault with the book "Zhouyi Cantongqi".

After a brief rest, the group returned to the Journey to the West Divine Realm.

Ning Chen appeared in the Slanting Moon Three Stars Cave, amidst familiar immortal scenery.

He immediately went to the hermitage where Bodhi Patriarch meditated. The stone door of the cave was half open, as if the Patriarch had already anticipated his arrival.

The patriarch sat upright on the futon, seemingly never having moved, his body exuding Taoist energy that resonated with heaven and earth.

Upon seeing Ning Chen return, the Patriarch slightly raised his eyelids, his gaze peaceful and profound.

Before the patriarch could speak, Ning Chen respectfully stepped forward and presented the ancient silk book, "Zhouyi Cantongqi," with both hands.

"Under the guidance and protection of my ancestral master, I have made progress to this day. On this return, I have come across this ancient fragment of the 'Zhouyi Cantongqi'. Although it is incomplete, the great Dao of the Golden Elixir and the ultimate principles of Yin and Yang described therein are profound and mysterious. I am dull-witted and cannot fathom its depths. I think that my ancestral master is a scholar of both heaven and man, and may be interested in such classics that expound on the origins. Therefore, I offer it to my ancestral master as a token of my sincerity and as a gift for my current studies."

A hint of approval flashed in Bodhi Patriarch's eyes. Not bad, my efforts in teaching him were not in vain; he can even answer questions quickly now.

He did not refuse, but reached out and took the silk book, his fingers tracing the incomplete characters on the silk, as if communicating with the author of the book from afar.

The patriarch stroked his long beard and nodded slightly.

"Hmm... The Zhouyi Cantongqi is a legacy of Peng Zu and a true account by Wei Gong. Although this book is incomplete, its original essence remains. Very good, Ning Chen, you have put your heart into it."

The patriarch's voice carried a gentle tone.

"You are able to recognize the value of this object, and you are not misled by its external brilliance, but only by the principles it embodies. Your heart is commendable."

With the silk scroll placed on his lap, the patriarch's gaze became even more solemn as he carefully examined Ning Chen.

"During this descent to the mortal realm, I observed that you have made further progress. Your aura is refined, and your divine light is abundant. You are only one step away from the realm of refining emptiness and merging with the Dao. This is a crucial step on the path of cultivation. A single thought can lead to profound understanding, while a single misstep could waste precious years. From this day forward, stay in the mountains and cultivate quietly in your humble abode. Hone your magical power and comprehend the laws of heaven and earth. Do not venture out again and become entangled in worldly karma, lest you miss the opportunity for a breakthrough."

Ning Chen felt a slight chill in his heart, realizing that his cultivation attributes had soared due to passing the fourth level of the Journey to the West Divine Realm, and he also sensed that he was about to step into the Dao Integration Realm.

Indeed, one should cultivate oneself diligently in the mountains to avoid causing trouble and making one's foundation unstable.