This is the true immortal of the Taoist sect.

Above the clouds, the airship was not flying very fast.

At least in Li Daoxuan's view, it was not fast.

"Sect Master Jian Chen, I'm not afraid of you laughing at me, but this humble Taoist is quite inexperienced and this is my first time riding in such a mode of transportation. Could you please explain the principles behind it?"

Li Daoxuan stood on the flying boat, looking left and right like a curious child, and then asked Jian Chen.

Jian Chen clearly hadn't expected Li Daoxuan to ask such a question.

Flying boats have been widespread among the major sects and forces of the Xuanhuang Great World for thousands of years.

How could a top expert with the strength of the eighth level not even know this?

Could it be that a master like Li Daoxuan was actually a rogue cultivator from the countryside?

Without the resources and training of a major sect, what kind of rogue cultivator could reach such a level?

Jian Chen kept these questions to himself, showing no disdain on his face, and replied with a smile:

"Sir, you are too modest. This flying boat is not a rare item. Any sect with a bit of wealth will be equipped with one. It is quite convenient for traveling."

"Actually, the principle of flying boats is very simple. The hull is made of lightweight wood that can conduct the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and is sturdy and durable. A floating array is carved on it, and it is equipped with propulsion power. Spirit crystals are used as the energy supply, so it can soar through the nine heavens."

Li Daoxuan suddenly realized that this thing was actually basically the same as the principle of airplanes in his previous life.

The only difference is in the materials and energy used.

Airplanes burn fuel, while airships burn the essence of heaven and earth.

Li Daoxuan's divine sense covered the hull of the ship, and everything on the flying boat was visible in almost the smallest detail.

However, they were puzzled by the spirit crystal hidden beneath the deck of the airship, which was constantly emitting energy.

"Where do spirit crystals come from?"

Li Daoxuan continued to ask.

Jian Chen's expression visibly froze.

If not knowing about flying boats meant Li Daoxuan lacked knowledge, then not even knowing about spirit crystals would be rather idiotic.

Which martial arts practitioner in the Xuanhuang Great World doesn't know about spirit crystals?

Anything extraordinary loses its purchasing power in the mortal realm, and spirit crystals must be used as currency.

Could it be that Li Daoxuan has never used spirit crystal coins?

Jian Chen asked curiously:

"With such strength, sir, have you never used spirit crystals?"

After reaching the fourth level of martial arts cultivation, one needs to refine essence and blood to cultivate true qi.

However, the human body's Qi and blood are ultimately limited. Excessive extraction will not only result in little improvement in cultivation, but will also damage one's own vital energy and even lifespan. At this time, if there are spirit crystals as an aid, it can save a great deal of time and trouble.

Li Daoxuan looked to be under thirty years old. It was impossible for someone his age to have cultivated to the eighth level without ever using rare and precious materials like spirit crystals or elixirs.

Li Daoxuan was honest, or rather, he didn't care at all whether Jian Chen would find out his background.

He smiled and said:

"This is the first time I've ever heard of this."

Jian Chen suppressed his surprise and explained:

"With your cultivation level, sir, you should be able to sense the boundless potential contained within this world, which we martial arts practitioners call spiritual essence."

"The spiritual energy of heaven and earth is born from the evolution of wind, frost, rain, snow, sun, moon, thunder and lightning, which can nourish all things in the world. This is the spiritual energy of heaven and earth."

"And the earth veins beneath those famous mountains and rivers are the places where the spiritual energy of heaven and earth is most abundant and pure."

"After millions of years of accumulation, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth will slowly attach itself to a mineral called spirit crystal."

"This ore, once mined, will be used by us martial arts practitioners; this is what we call Spirit Crystal."

"Spirit crystals are also divided into various grades based on the concentration of spiritual energy they contain, generally in five colors: brown, red, yellow, white, and gold."

"Golden spirit crystals are of the highest grade. A single golden spirit crystal the size of a fist is enough to buy a town with hundreds of thousands of inhabitants."

After saying that, Jian Chen generously took out a spirit crystal coin the size of a longan and handed it over.

"Only spirit crystals of this color or higher will be used to make spirit crystal coins, which are used as currency for cultivators to buy and sell on a daily basis."

"One Crimson Spirit Coin can be exchanged for a thousand taels of silver in mortal gold and silver, but very few people would do that."

Li Daoxuan accepted the spirit crystal coin and examined it carefully.

Sure enough, they discovered that it contained a rich spiritual energy.

However, the spiritual energy inside is sealed by the spiritual crystal, so there is almost no possibility of it escaping.

"How do you use this?"

Jian Chen smiled as he took back the spirit crystal coin. He gently pinched it with his fingers, and a shallow crack appeared on the coin.

Li Daoxuan then sensed a continuous stream of spiritual energy emanating from the spirit crystal coin and being absorbed by Jian Chen.

However, it contains many impurities, which need to be refined and removed by one's own true energy.

Li Daoxuan smiled and nodded, feeling that his eyes had been opened.

In my previous life, I read some fantasy novels, and the spirit stones mentioned in them seemed to be something like this.

Li Daoxuan couldn't help but sigh in his heart, "A civilization that has developed for tens of thousands of years must have its unique features."

In his mind, practicing martial arts was simply practicing martial arts.

However, the martial arts of this Xuanhuang Great World are, in a sense, more like the fantasy world mentioned in the novels of my previous life.

"interesting..."

Li Daoxuan murmured with a smile in his eyes.

Jian Chen looked at him like this, and he also had many questions in his heart.

Seeing that Li Daoxuan seemed quite easy to talk to, he then asked:

"When you refer to yourself, you often mention the words 'this humble Taoist,' but I wonder what that means?"

Li Daoxuan didn't hide anything and replied with a smile:

"I am a Taoist practitioner, but my cultivation is not yet complete, so I refer to myself as 'this poor Taoist.'"

Jian Chen was even more puzzled.

"A cultivator? Surely, the cultivation you speak of doesn't refer to martial arts?"

Li Daoxuan smiled.

"Martial arts is also a way. There are three thousand great paths, but they all lead to the same destination. Ultimately, what we seek is transcendence."

"However, the methods and approaches I use in my pursuit of transcendence are slightly different from yours."

Jian Chen paused, and Li Daoxuan's words, "The Great Dao has three thousand paths, but they all lead to the same destination," echoed in his mind.

"Transcendence? Are you referring to the Three Realms Emperors, who are immortal?"

Li Daoxuan gently shook his head.

"No, so-called emperors or immortals are nothing more than 'fruits'."

"True enlightenment and transcendence do not refer to these realms of enlightenment, but rather to your understanding of why you exist in this world, how you exist, and what you will become."

"When you understand all this, you will have attained the Dao and transcended it. Everything else is just the natural result of seeking the Dao."

If Qingfeng and Mingyue were here, they could easily understand these words; they are simply about the relationship between principles and techniques.

Whether one is a Great Emperor or a True Immortal, these are all natural fruits that one will obtain by pursuing the Great Dao; there is no need to deliberately pursue them.

Once you attain enlightenment, you will have achieved it.

But Jian Chen fell into deep thought, feeling his mind wavering and entering a state of confusion.

He had never heard such a statement before.

Martial arts training pursues ultimate power and a higher realm. Although martial arts also contains the word "Dao," no one can clearly explain the meaning of this word.

In the eyes of martial arts practitioners in the Xuanhuang Great World, the word "Dao" is more like a name and description; it is a path, nothing more.

No one would add any other meaning to this word.

But judging from what Li Daoxuan said, it seems that the word "Dao" is the foundation of cultivation.

Jian Chen wanted to refute, but he vaguely felt that what Li Daoxuan said seemed to make sense.

Unconsciously, my thoughts became somewhat chaotic, to the point that my soul began to become restless.

As an enlightened master, Li Daoxuan would naturally not take advantage of someone's misfortune at this time.

"Sect Master Jian Chen, there's no need to overthink it. Just stick to the path you should be on."

A voice carrying a hint of magic entered Jian Chen's ears, shattering the mystery in his heart.

Jian Chen's confused eyes slowly cleared, and before he knew it, cold sweat was streaming down his face.

"Phew...that was close."

Jian Chen was shocked.

He then looked at Li Daoxuan and bowed to him with a complicated expression.

"Thank you for the reminder, sir."

Li Daoxuan smiled and waved his hand.

"No need. When it's time to kill you, I won't hesitate for a second..."