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

The back mountain of Xuanzhen Temple.

Only after passing through three palaces and then over a perpetual mist of the heart can one truly enter the place where the lineage of Cunsi is passed down.

It was completely quiet here, without the sounds of any insects or birds.

There were only ancient temples hidden in the mountains and forests, and the occasional eerie gaze cast from behind the temple doors.

Sometimes it appears suddenly as a humanoid phantom, or a cloud of mist with eyes, slowly circling the treetops.

These are not demons, but rather manifestations of the mind.

In the world of ordinary people, Xuanzhen Temple is just an ancient Taoist temple with a history of more than two thousand years.

However, in the true extraordinary world, Xuanzhen Temple is one of the nine branches of Taoism, and the place where the Cunsi lineage is the largest inheritor in Nanjiang Province.

He has hundreds of disciples and his businesses span hundreds of cities across the Federation.

Many large corporations, prominent families, and military and political figures have received favors from Xuanzhen Temple.

On the surface, it is just a Taoist temple, but in reality, it is a behemoth that has been rooted for thousands of years.

now.

Inside the Cunsi Hall on the back mountain, more than ten Taoist priests sat on both sides.

Seven deacons and three elders.

At the very top sits the current abbot of Xuanzhen Temple, Daoist Xuanming.

The palace gates were tightly closed, and two more hundred-faced guardians stood outside.

Those who can sit here today are the true core of Xuanzhen Temple.

The initial stages of spiritual practice were divided into four categories: no form, one form, two forms, and three forms.

Those without form cannot observe their own minds, much less condense their mental image.

Once you step into the first stage, you've truly entered the gate.

Choose an object from your inner fears, condense it using a special method, transform it from illusory to real, and interfere with reality.

Each time a new mental image is formed, the strength will increase.

Once the number of mental images reaches three, the first mental barrier will appear.

To continue making breakthroughs, we need to allow all phenomena to coexist.

Therefore, after the three phases, there is no further subdivision into four or five phases.

Instead, it consists of ten phases.

Further up, there are hundreds and thousands of forms.

As for the legendary Realm of Myriad Forms, no one in this world has been able to set foot there.

A cultivator with ten affinities is sufficient to handle most unusual events.

A cultivator of a hundred forms can overlap different mental images to create a small area of ​​fear.

A cultivator with a thousand forms can unite all forms into one.

In a single moment, people in a city can simultaneously see what they fear most in their hearts.

Such a person, placed anywhere in the Blue Star Federation, would be a top figure capable of influencing the situation in that region.

Xuanming Daoist was a thousand-faced cultivator.

Among the nine lineages of Taoism, they are truly powerful figures standing at the top.

However, at this moment, this powerful figure, who could twist the hearts of an entire city, had an old face covered with age spots, a slightly hunched back, and would cough lightly after saying a few words.

This is the biggest flaw in mental cultivation: it cannot extend lifespan.

No matter how strange or powerful one's abilities may be, one is still just a mortal.

When you reach a certain age, you will still die eventually. At most, modern medicine and various secret drugs can prolong your life by a few more years.

The Taoist Yunsong was just like that.

During his lifetime, he condensed 897 forms, making him the person in the entire Xuanzhen Temple who came closest to the Thousand Forms Realm.

But when one's lifespan comes to an end, no matter how strong one's willpower is, one can only watch helplessly as the physical body decays.

This is also one of the root causes of the emergence of reverse truth.

Those people cannot accept it.

It is clear that cultivators of the Mind and Body can manipulate dreams, distort cognition, and even make illusory things real.

Why can't I extend my lifespan?

They believe that the nine branches of Taoism have gone astray.

The physical body is a shackle, and so is reason.

Only by completely merging with one's inner self, and then by using the Seed of Distortion to receive blessings from beyond the heavens, can one achieve true spiritual ascension.

Master Xuanming sat at the head of the table, his gaze sweeping over the crowd.

"The Nijin Society has been quite restless lately."

"Traces of the Twisted Seed have been found in the Northern Lands, the Eastern Sea, and the Southern River."

"In two of these places, the beginnings of twisted pillars have already appeared."

Upon hearing this, everyone in the hall was taken aback.

An elder asked in a low voice, "Have they mastered the complete breeding method?"

Taoist Xuanming shook his head.

"It cannot be determined at this time."

"However, the Celestial Master of Shangyuan Prefecture has already issued a summons for the nine lineages, ordering each lineage to send its elites to the ancestral court to reunite."

"I will be accompanied by Elder Qingxu, two deacons, and twenty core disciples."

The other elder's expression changed slightly.

"Will the abbot go in person?"

Master Xuanming nodded.

"This matter is of utmost importance."

"Once the Pillar of Twistedness is fully formed, it will feed on the fear of a city, giving birth to seeds of twistedness."

"At that time, reality will be dragged into the world of illusion."

"Ordinary troops simply cannot handle this."

A moment of silence fell over the hall.

After a moment, Elder Qingxu seemed to have thought of something.

"Is Shangyuan Prefecture preparing to reactivate the Zhenwang Division?"

The Zhenwang Division is a special action organization established by the nine branches of Taoism to target the Nizhen Society.

The most elite young generation, deacons, and elders of the Nine Veins will be drawn from among them.

More than 20 years ago, the Zhenwang Division suffered heavy losses in a siege.

Since then, it has been in a semi-sealed state.

Master Xuanming said calmly, "Not bad."

"This time, the Zhenwang Division will be completely restarted."

"This humble Taoist priest serves as the deputy chief officiant."

Everyone was taken aback.

Xuanming Daoist is at the Thousand Aspects Realm.

Even he could only serve as the deputy director.

The identity of the head of the department is almost obvious.

One of the stewards couldn't help but ask, "Could it be that Celestial Master from the Lower Yuan Prefecture?"

Among the nine branches of Taoism.

The Upper Yuan Prefecture oversees the Nine Meridians, while the Lower Yuan Prefecture excels in warfare.

The contemporary Celestial Master of the Lower Realm is said to be the being closest to all phenomena.

Twenty years ago, before the Zhenwang Division was sealed off, it was under the control of the Xiayuan Prefecture.

Master Xuanming did not answer, but only glanced at the steward.

"This matter has not yet been officially announced."

"Don't spread rumors."

Everyone lowered their heads.

Master Xuanming then went on to explain some matters concerning the temple.

After he had finished speaking, he suddenly remembered something.

"Xuancheng".

The Taoist Xuancheng, who was sitting below, immediately stood up.

"Guanzhu."

Xuanming Daoist looked at him.

"Has the boy that Senior Brother Yun Song asked you to keep an eye on before he passed away returned?"

Xuan Cheng's heart skipped a beat.

He knew that Xuanming Daoist would ask.

After driving Gu Changjin away yesterday, he summoned all the young Taoist disciples and nuns who were present at the time.

Those who need admonishment should be admonished, and those who need warning should be warned.

Among ordinary disciples, who would dare to offend this inner court steward for Gu Changjin's sake?

Xuan Cheng's face showed a hint of regret at the right moment.

"Return to the Lord."

"This disciple has been sending people to keep an eye on things."

"That boy was not here."

Master Xuanming frowned.

Are you sure?

"Sure."

Xuan Cheng said in a low voice, "I even checked his information afterward."

"This person's name is Gu Changjin, and he just graduated from high school."

"Both my parents are ordinary employees of the port authority and work away from home most of the year."

"He himself has not shown any spiritual qualities in the past two years, nor has he had any further contact with the Taoist sect."

"This disciple suspects that Master may have made a mistake back then."

At this point, Xuan Cheng lowered his head, a hint of coldness flashing in his eyes.

He didn't think he had done anything wrong.

He had followed Daoist Yunsong for decades.

Serving tea and water, supporting spiritual practice, and handling all matters, big and small, for Xuanzhen Temple.

That scroll of "The Great Void Contemplation Diagram" should rightfully be kept for myself.

The quota for the Nine Lineages Ancestral Court should also be given to his disciple.

Why should a stranger who has only met you once get the benefit?

The look in Gu Changjin's eyes before he left yesterday did make him feel somewhat uncomfortable.

But he had already investigated and found out.

He had no power, no influence, no background; he was just an ordinary student who had just graduated.

Even if one has some talent for divination, so what?

Xuanzhen Temple has a history spanning thousands of years.

Are you afraid of an ordinary person?

Moreover, he had already arranged for people to keep an eye on Gu Changjin's family.

If that kid dares to approach Xuanzhen Temple again, there are plenty of ways to make him behave.

Xuanming Daoist remained silent for a long time, his expression gradually turning somber.

Senior Brother Yun Song could have lived for another two or three years.

But before he died, he exhausted all his spiritual essence to forcibly perform a divination for the Xuanzhen Temple.

The hexagram consists of only eight characters.

The young man returned to the mountains, and Xuanzhen flourished.

After the divination was completed, all the cloud and pine trees vanished, and he passed away that very night.

Over the years, Master Xuanming has been wondering who that boy really is.

The only young man that Yun Song valued highly during his lifetime was Gu Changjin, whom he had met once.

They even left him the "Tai Xu Cun Si Tu" (a painting of Buddhist meditation), three sets of spiritual cleansing items, and the entire quota for the ancestral temple.

But now, he hasn't come back.

Could it be that my senior brother really miscalculated?

"That's how it should be."

Master Xuanming sighed softly.

"The secrets of heaven are unpredictable, and cannot be forced by human effort."

He slowly rose and walked out of the hall, his back view seeming to have aged even more.

"It's just a pity about my senior brother's last divination."

"The Mysterious Realm flourishes..."

"Now it seems that it was all for naught."

Master Xuancheng bowed his head in respect as he saw him off.

But I felt a sense of relief.

However, what he didn't know was that the Federal Military had already set its sights on Xuanzhen Temple.