Just as the old patriarch forced me to my death, I achieved the unity of Dao and fruition.

Northern suburbs of Nanjiang City.

Before the morning mist had dissipated, the outline of a large-scale ancient Taoist temple was already emerging on the mountainside.

With its blue bricks and black tiles, flying eaves and brackets, the nine-tiered palace rises layer by layer along the mountainside, with the main hall hidden in the clouds at the deepest part, where only a corner of the gilded roof can be seen.

According to public records from the Blue Star Federation, Xuanzhen Temple is just one of the most famous ancient cultural and religious sites in Nanjiang Province.

Originally built more than two thousand years ago and having undergone several renovations, it is now mainly responsible for the protection of ancient books, research on folk customs, charitable relief, and receiving tourists.

As for spiritual practice?

It's clearly stated on the federal government's official website.

Feudal superstitions are not encouraged.

Gu Changjin stood outside the mountain gate, looking at the three ancient characters on the plaque, a smile appearing on his face.

"It was well hidden."

After killing Shen Qingyan last night, he searched the entire house.

The result was completely fruitless; not a single bit of knowledge about mental phenomena was gained.

This suggests that true spiritual transmission cannot be conveyed through ordinary words.

The fact that the nine branches of Taoism have been able to survive under the Federation's nose for so many years means that they naturally have their own methods to hide their core techniques.

It was just getting light.

The gates of Xuanzhen Temple have been opened.

Some elderly pilgrims arrived at the temple early, carrying incense, candles, and offerings.

There were also young Taoist priests dressed in gray-blue robes, sweeping the stone steps with brooms.

Gu Changjin mingled with the crowd, heading up the mountain path.

He walked slowly, but his eyes took in every palace and every rune along the way.

On the surface, it is indeed just an ordinary Taoist temple.

But when he got near the inner courtyard, he clearly felt a very faint sense of being spied on.

It wasn't the divine sense of a cultivator, but more like some kind of invisible thought, sweeping over from the level of the mind.

"That's interesting."

Gu Changjin did not resist, letting the force pass over his body.

Soon, he stopped a young Taoist boy of about fourteen or fifteen years old outside a side hall.

"Young Taoist priest."

"This humble Taoist priest dares not accept such praise."

The young Taoist boy bowed.

"What can I do for you, layperson?"

Gu Changjin retrieved the old Taoist priest's name from the original owner's memories.

"I've come to see Master Yunsong."

"He should still remember me."

The young Taoist was taken aback.

"Grandmaster Yun Song?"

"Our grandmaster passed away half a year ago."

died?

Gu Changjin raised an eyebrow slightly.

The original owner came to Xuanzhen Temple as a volunteer only two years ago.

I never expected that the old Taoist priest was already gone.

"So who has taken his place now?"

"It's Uncle-Master Xuancheng."

The young Taoist priest had just finished answering when he seemed to suddenly remember something.

He stared at Gu Changjin for a few moments, then hesitated before asking, "What is your name, layman?"

"Gu Changjin".

Upon hearing this name, the young Taoist's eyes widened slightly.

"You are Gu Changjin?"

Gu Changjin smiled.

"Did Master Yun Song mention me?"

The young Taoist priest nodded quickly.

"Our master once said that Layman Gu would return to Xuanzhen Temple one day."

He also left something behind, saying he would give it to you when you returned.

"Please come with me."

Gu Changjin's heart stirred slightly.

It seems that the old Taoist priest did indeed see the special qualities of the original body.

Unfortunately, he probably didn't expect that before the original owner could return to Xuanzhen Temple, he would be used as a sacrifice by Shen Qingyan.

However, after many twists and turns, Gu Changjin still arrived.

The young Taoist led him to a secluded courtyard and asked him to wait a moment while he quickly went in to report.

In the courtyard.

A middle-aged Taoist priest in his forties is drinking tea.

This person is Taoist Xuancheng.

Master Yunsong's eldest disciple is also one of the stewards of the inner courtyard of Xuanzhen Temple.

After hearing the young Taoist's words, his hand holding the teacup paused slightly.

Gu Changjin has actually come back.

A sinister glint flashed in Xuancheng Daoist's eyes.

Before his death, his master gave him some private instructions.

If Gu Changjin ever returns to Xuanzhen Temple, give him that scroll of "Tai Xu Cun Si Tu".

He also had to take on disciples on behalf of his master, bringing Gu Changjin into the Cunsi lineage.

For this reason, the master even left Gu Changjin three soul-cleansing items, as well as a spot to enter the Nine Veins Ancestral Court.

Xuancheng Daoist has been by Yunsong's side for decades.

He devoted himself wholeheartedly to his work, working his way up from a novice to a steward.

As a result, when the master was on his deathbed, he left the most important transmission of meditation to a stranger he had only met once.

On what grounds?

Moreover, the quota for the Nine Veins Ancestral Court is extremely precious.

If it's used by Gu Changjin, what will happen to his disciples?

Master Xuancheng chuckled coldly twice, and the gloom in his eyes quickly disappeared.

When he walked out of the courtyard, his face had returned to its gentle expression.

"You're Gu Changjin?"

Gu Changjin nodded.

"it's me."

Master Xuancheng looked him up and down for a moment.

Just a moment ago, he sensed an extremely dangerous aura emanating from this eighteen-year-old boy.

But upon closer inspection, there was nothing there.

They just have more energy and blood than the average person.

It's probably just my imagination.

Xuancheng Daoist felt somewhat relieved and sighed softly, "My master did mention you before he passed away."

"But it seems that you are still bound by worldly ties and your mind is cluttered, so you are not suitable to enter my Xuanzhen Temple to cultivate Taoism for the time being."

"Let's go back."

"It's not too late to come back when you've truly let go of worldly attachments."

He spoke in a profound and enigmatic tone, but inwardly he was sneering.

What does it mean to have lingering worldly ties? To have a cluttered and confused mind?

The standards are ultimately up to him.

Unless he admits it, Gu Changjin will never be able to enter Xuanzhen Temple in his lifetime.

Gu Changjin was stunned for a moment.

He was all prepared to come into contact with the transmission of the Heart Sutra, but the other party kicked him out right away.

Gu Changjin looked at Xuancheng Daoist and suddenly smiled.

"Master Yun Song left me something."

"Since I am unable to cultivate, then hand over the things to me."

The smile on Xuancheng Daoist's face froze.

The young Taoist priest next to him also whispered a reminder.

"Uncle-Master, Grandmaster did indeed say that..."

"shut up!"

Xuancheng Daoist glanced coldly at the young Daoist boy, then looked at Gu Changjin.

"What is it?"

"Your master never left you any possessions."

"Don't spout nonsense at Xuanzhen Temple."

The smile on Gu Changjin's face gradually faded.

"Yeah?"

Xuancheng Daoist waved his sleeve.

"Someone come here."

"Please ask him to leave."

Four young Taoist priests immediately entered the courtyard.

He said "please" but his hand was already grabbing Gu Changjin's shoulder.

Gu Changjin did not move.

He simply raised his eyelids slowly and glanced at the four people.

boom!

Despite the absence of any extraordinary power, the four young Taoists were struck dumb, their outstretched hands freezing in mid-air, their bodies trembling uncontrollably.

Gu Changjin gently dusted off his shoulder, which hadn't been touched at all, and looked past them, landing on Xuan Cheng Dao Ren's surprised and uncertain face.

Gu Changjin smiled, a very gentle smile: "Please keep Master Yunsong's things for me for a few days. Remember, take good care of them."

Having said that, he turned around, put his hands behind his back, and strolled leisurely out of the inner courtyard.

Only after his figure disappeared did Xuancheng Daoist suddenly come to his senses and realize that his back was soaked with cold sweat.

He only let out a cold snort after Gu Changjin had walked far away.

"He's just an ordinary teenager, yet he dares to covet the inheritance of the Nine Meridians."

……

Outside the gate of Xuanzhen Temple.

As Gu Changjin stepped down the last stone step, a black military hovercraft silently stopped beside him.

The car doors opened automatically.

Inside sat a man in his thirties wearing military uniform.

There is a silver star on the epaulette.

The man waved to Gu Changjin with a hearty smile on his face.

"Gu Changjin?"

"Let's chat in the car."

Gu Changjin glanced at him, then bent down and got into the car.

The car doors closed.

An invisible sound barrier instantly rose up.

The man in military uniform reached out his hand.

"Lin Yue".

"Colonel, Special Affairs Division, Federal Armed Forces."

"One of our main responsibilities is to keep an eye on Xuanzhen Temple and all abnormal mental phenomena within the territory of Nanjiang."

Gu Changjin shook hands with him.

"Do you know Master Yun Song?"

"know."

Lin Yue smiled.

"The old Taoist priest has helped the military many times."

"He mentioned you before he passed away, saying that you have a special mindset and that if you can enter the lineage, you will be a rare talent in the lineage of Cun Si."

"It's a pity. Judging from Xuancheng's expression just now, he doesn't intend to hand over what Daoist Yunsong left for you."

Gu Changjin spoke calmly.

"I heard it was a classic text."

Lin Yue nodded.

"The Great Void Contemplation Diagram".

"The true introductory method to mind-body connection."

"It is not a record on ordinary paper, but a spiritual legacy passed down by generations of meditation practitioners."

"Without that thing, even if you memorize the scriptures perfectly, you can't form a true mental image."

At this point, a hint of excitement flashed in Lin Yue's eyes.

"However, the fact that Xuanzhen Temple is unwilling to accept you does not mean that you have no other way out."

"Over the years, the Federal Military has also developed a method for cultivating mental awareness."

"Although it is not as complete as the nine branches of Taoism, it is sufficient for beginners."

"Gu Changjin, would you be willing to join the military?"

Gu Changjin looked at him.

Lin Yue appeared calm on the surface, but the expectation in his eyes was almost impossible to suppress.

The Federation appears to rule the entire Blue Planet.

However, in the realm of the extraordinary, they are pitifully weak.

Those with the talent for physiognomy were mostly recruited by the nine branches of Taoism in advance.

Many of the remaining ones were absorbed by the Reverse True Society.

Very few people are truly willing to pledge allegiance to the Union.

Therefore, every person rejected by the Taoist sect but possessing the talent for spiritual insight is a treasure to the military.

Gu Changjin leaned back in the leather seat, his deep gaze looking through the car window at the magnificent Starport Tower in the distance.

"In terms of sphere of influence, population, resources, and military, how can the mere Nine Lineages of Taoism compare to the Federation that rules the entire Blue Planet?"

"The Federation is just missing a brain that can suppress everything."

Gu Changjin stroked his chin.

Coincidentally, there are still more than a dozen Great Demon King True Spirits in the Ten Thousand Demon Sect.

Although it is impossible to fight independently, if one can silently possess and take over the bodies of several high-ranking officials of the Federal Military and members of Congress... wouldn't that be much faster than painstakingly cultivating one's mental form?

He turned his head and looked at Colonel Lin Yue, whose eyes were full of expectation, as if he had found a treasure. His smile became extremely sincere.

"Colonel Lin, I am willing to serve the Union."

Lin Yue's eyes lit up, and he gripped Gu Changjin's hand tightly: "Good! The Federal Military will never mistreat its own people!"

Gu Changjin grasped his hand in return, his smile deepening, and silently added a sentence in his heart.

"After all, it is my duty to build my federation."