Celestial Official!

The Yuntai Flying Boat is over ten zhang long, with its sails billowing in the wind, breaking through the clouds and mist, its momentum vast and magnificent.

The three-story pavilion on the boat is spacious and bright, with elegant furnishings and all the necessary items. Being inside, one does not feel as if flying through the air, but rather as if residing in a refined study, feeling free and at ease.

Unaware of the passage of time, the night deepened as the stars accompanied the moon as matchmaker.

Inside a private room.

After seeing off Wang Fu and Chen Fayan, who had come to exchange pleasantries, Yan Chen sat calmly at his desk.

Gazing at the calming incense swirling in the burner, his thoughts gradually cleared, and he pondered to himself:

"The Cloud Platform Flying Boat is faster than the Flying Shuttle, but even so, it still takes a day and a night to reach the vast desert."

"According to Senior Brother Chen, there is a city more than a hundred miles away in the desert, where a fourth-rank clan is located."

"Therefore, we need not go straight into the desert. We can settle in that village first and then make further plans after the other two groups have gathered."

Yan remained silent for a long time, then suddenly flicked his sleeve, reached out and flipped his hand, placing the Xuan Shu Treasure Mirror in his palm.

"This item has many uses and is extremely mysterious, but I wonder if it could be of any help to this trip?"

After a moment's hesitation, he gently shook his head, put it away, and then, with a slight thought, golden light began to flow before his eyes—

Name: Yan Chen

[Realm Level: Qi Refining Realm, Level 3]

[Cultivation Progress: Yang Mansion (Bing Fire), Yin Mansion (None), Yang Residence (None), Yin Residence (None)]

[Cultivation Techniques: Crimson Cloud Bright Light Control Technique (Rank 9), Azure Origin Bright Light Elixir Formula (Rank 9)]

[The incantations are: "Tea Stove Brewing Sword Dance and Leaping Song", "Divine Elixir and Golden Liquid Three Fires Scripture", and "Song of Restraining the Two Elements and the Divine Evil Forces"]

[Taoist Technique: The Divine Furnace's Ignition of Passion and Desire Spell (Mastered)]

……

"Our strategy for dealing with the enemy is indeed rather weak... The only thing we have to rely on is our 'life-bound fire'."

"As for the 'Divine Elixir Golden Liquid Three Fire Scripture,' although it is a superior internal alchemy method, it cannot directly increase one's strength unless one condenses a great elixir, forms a pill within the body, and ingests it..."

Yan Chen's gaze swept over the lines of text, then suddenly stopped, as if he had realized something, and said:

"Oh right, how could I have forgotten about it!"

He immediately took out an item from his sleeve pouch, which was none other than the "Minor Pure Spirit Jade Liquid Elixir Scripture," and quickly began to flip through it.

"If I remember correctly, this alchemical text records a pill that can purify Qi in a short time, and it seems to be called..."

"Found it, it's here!"

"The Elixir of Life... uses one's own Qi to return to one's body, generating life and bringing forth its full potential!"

Yan Chen examined it carefully for a moment and realized that he had not misremembered, so he immediately smiled.

But after only a moment, he frowned to himself and said:

"Although the method of internal alchemy can be practiced without relying on a furnace, the necessary medicinal materials are ultimately indispensable."

"For now, we have no choice but to give up. We can make further plans once we reach the village."

With this thought in mind, Yan Chen was unable to calm down.

He simply got up and went out, intending to find a quiet room to study the cultivation of internal alchemy.

The first floor of the building houses the main hall.

Lu Jinhuan sat at the table, resting her chin on one hand while fiddling with a brass array plate in the other, appearing absent-minded.

And opposite her.

Lu Sheng held a teacup, the tea shimmering slightly, reflecting ripples in his eyes, his thoughts unreadable.

"Third Uncle, why does my third brother insist that you protect me?"

"Could it be that something unexpected has happened during this journey through the vast desert?"

Lu Jinhuan loosened the brass array plate and finally couldn't help but ask.

Lu Sheng smiled and shook his head, saying:

"Jin Huan, you're overthinking it. Your third brother is only worried about your safety and has no other intentions."

Lu Jinghuan's pretty face turned slightly cold, her usual charming and innocent demeanor vanished, and she said indifferently:

"Please tell me, Uncle, why did my third brother not worry about me earlier or later, but chose this time to be concerned about me?"

"Although Jin Huan was born into the Lu family of Yuanding, she never dared to rely on the family's legacy to make a living. Apart from this precious mirror, she never asked the family for anything else from beginning to end."

"But I have recently heard that my third brother has been running around among the Eight Meridians, flattering and currying favor, and even giving away the Xuan Shu Treasure Mirror that the clan has refined to others at will. It is really hard to understand!"

"As a prominent family of the second rank in the Lu clan of Yuanding, must we also be subjected to such treatment?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Sheng's expression finally turned somewhat grim, and he said in a low voice:

"Jin Huan, don't talk nonsense. How could your third brother do such a thing?"

Lu Jinhuan sighed softly:

"Third Uncle, there's no need to hide it. There's a senior brother in the Melting Gold Valley named Chi Lianyun. I've heard him mention him more than once. He possesses the Xuan Shu Treasure Mirror of my Yuan Ding Lu Clan."

"As for the existence of Zhaoming Chi, there is no need for Jin Huan to say more. As for where this treasure mirror came from, Uncle should have his own conclusion."

"You silly girl..."

Lu Sheng was clearly furious and was about to reprimand someone when he sensed someone approaching from behind, so he turned his head to look.

Then a young man dressed in a crimson Taoist robe stood a few steps away.

Their eyes met, and the air seemed to freeze for a moment, but it returned to normal in an instant.

Lu Sheng withdrew his gaze meaningfully, but without saying a word, he got up and left.

As Yan Chen gazed at the man's retreating figure, a sense of apprehension inexplicably arose in his heart.

This has nothing to do with the level of cultivation, but rather a kind of inexplicable intuition.

It's like a blind person touching fire; even if they don't know what it is, they instinctively feel fear.

"Senior Brother Yan, what brings you here?"

Junior Sister Lu stood up with a smile on her face and asked.

Yan Chen regained his composure, smiled, bowed slightly, and said succinctly:

"I suddenly had an insight during my cultivation just now, and I wish to verify it. I wonder if there is a quiet room on your flying boat for me to use?"

"Of course I have it. Please come with me, senior brother."

Thank you for your trouble.

Yan Chen followed Lu Jinhuan out of the main hall. Guided by her, they chose a secluded and quiet room, where they chatted briefly before saying their goodbyes.

Inside the quiet room.

Yan Chen sat with his feet touching, his palms facing upwards, which was the starting posture for cultivating the inner alchemy method.

The internal alchemy method emphasizes that essence, qi, and spirit are the fire, and the physical body is the cauldron. This goes without saying, and Yan Chen has already mastered it.

Having learned from the previous work, "Tea Stove Brewing Sword Dance and Song," he had a good understanding of the principles involved. However, the three fires of essence, energy, and spirit were difficult to master.

The three fires in the human body correspond to essence, qi, and spirit, also known as essence being the people's fire, qi being the minister's fire, and spirit being the ruler's fire.

Each of these points belongs to one of the three acupoints in the human body: the upper, middle, and lower points, namely the brain, the center of the chest, and below the navel. The upper point is the master of fire, the middle point is the assistant of fire, and the lower point is the foundation of fire. The three points share the same origin and complement each other, and none of them can be missing!

Only in this way can the great medicine be refined, and the elixir be stored in the acupoints!

Yan Chen focused his mind, burned away his distracting thoughts, and began to practice the internal alchemy incantation, urging the three fires to burn simultaneously, carefully comprehending the profound changes within.

Although he is currently struggling with a lack of medicinal herbs, it does not prevent him from learning how to use them in the future.

Unbeknownst to us, the moon had faded and the stars had become sparse, the east was turning white, and the world was clear and bright!

Yan Chen walked out of the quiet room, his brows furrowed with relief, clearly having reaped considerable rewards from his hard work overnight.

"Although I dare not say that I have completely mastered the internal alchemy method, I have at least glimpsed the basics. Refining an internal elixir should not be a problem."

Yan Chen raised his hand to brush away the wrinkles in his robe sleeves, intending to walk towards the main hall.

But then, changing his mind, he turned and headed out of the building.

At this moment, when the turbid air has not yet dissipated and the pure air is just beginning to emerge, Yan Chen stepped out of the tower, leaned against the railing, and looked around—

A thin mist and blue light swirled between heaven and earth, the chaos yet to be cleared, resembling a chicken egg; as dawn broke in the east, rosy light peeked through the clouds, just like a chick hatching from its shell.

"Such a sight would be truly rare to witness without the advantage of this cloud-platform flying boat!"

Yan Chen felt refreshed and invigorated, and his mind became clear.

If one day I can reach this realm without relying on external forces, then I will not have wasted my life's cultivation efforts!

……

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