Chapter 41: Immortal Connection

After summoning tea utensils out of thin air, Lin Yu casually glanced at Sima Chengzhen, curious to see his reaction.

But who could have expected that Sima Chengzhen’s expression didn’t change at all—he walked over calmly, as if utterly unfazed by Lin Yu’s display…

Hey, this isn’t right!

Summoning objects from empty space!

Such a grand supernatural feat, and you, an old Daoist chasing immortality, show no reaction?!

Lin Yu was taken aback.

But he quickly realized the old man must have misunderstood something.

After all, in this world, there truly existed many wondrous techniques—like the illusionary arts in the main storyline.

Most of these illusions relied on hallucinogenic drugs and psychological suggestion to create illusions.

Some were merely mechanical devices and conjuring tricks, with no supernatural elements at all.

Summoning objects from thin air could be achieved through conjuring techniques.

Sima Chengzhen had cultivated for so many years, even becoming the founding patriarch of his sect—he’d surely seen such Daoist performances before, or perhaps even performed them himself!

So this is what it means to fail to recognize Mount Tai…

Lin Yu sighed inwardly, yet spoke calmly: “Since the True Method has emerged, discussing it within this temple would demean it. Would you accompany me to the clouds?”

“…”

Sima Chengzhen blinked in slight surprise.

Lin Yu nodded: “Then that’s a yes!”

With a wave of his sleeve, the surrounding vapor instantly condensed into mist, the mist gathered into clouds, and finally transformed into a magical cloud that slowly lifted the stone bench and table into the sky.

The cloud beneath his feet felt soft yet resilient; a cool breeze brushed against his head.

Sima Chengzhen sat stiffly on the stone bench, slowly lowering his gaze, his eyes dull and fixed on the Jade Xiao Peak receding far below—as if still unable to process the transformation.

Soon, the old Daoist raised his head, his movements stiff, glancing at the teapot floating on its own, then at Lin Yu across from him, holding a teacup with effortless ease and serene delight—finally, he began trembling uncontrollably.

He suddenly rose to his knees on the cloud, disregarding the danger, lips quivering as he spoke:

“Your humble servant, Baiyunzi, failed to recognize the True Immortal’s divine presence, and dared to seek the Dao with clever words—this… this…”

Now that’s more like it~

I thought you truly didn’t care about such feats!

Lin Yu smiled and waved his sleeve, lifting Sima Chengzhen from his knees with a gesture.

“Ignorance is no crime. I am not a petty being—relax your heart!”

“Thank you, Supreme Immortal!”

Sima Chengzhen hurriedly bowed in thanks, then cautiously looked toward Lin Yu across from him.

Unlike before, his gaze now held many emotions: excitement and fervor at encountering an Immortal, mixed with anxiety and dread over having offended one.

After a moment of silence, he respectfully asked: “May I humbly inquire of Your Immortal Name?”

Lin Yu smiled lightly: “My name is Huan Yu. By the standards of Baiyu Jing, you may call me Zhenjun.”

Baiyu Jing?

Sima Chengzhen froze, then quickly bowed deeply in response:

“So you are Zhenjun Huan Yu!”

Lin Yu smiled and manipulated the teapot to pour a cup of hot tea, sending it floating toward Sima Chengzhen.

“Thank you, Zhenjun, for the tea!”

Sima Chengzhen hastily thanked him, then eagerly lifted the teacup and took a sip.

Mmm~ Truly excellent tea!

No wonder the Zhenjun carries it with him…

Sima Chengzhen’s face showed astonishment.

He’d drunk only one sip, yet already felt fragrance lingering in his mouth and throat, his body feeling strangely lighter.

Without doubt, this was Immortal tea!

Sima Chengzhen firmly believed it.

Seeing the reverence on his face, Lin Yu couldn’t help but smile.

That feeling of lightness? Pure illusion!

The tea leaves Lin Yu had taken were from the mother Da Hong Pao tree—only the flavor was supreme; its benefits to the body were even less than an ordinary, unenchanted green jujube.

Seeing through it but saying nothing, Lin Yu said nothing, waiting silently until Sima Chengzhen finished the tea, then softly spoke:

“The Inner Elixir Art is profound beyond words, indescribable and unnamed. Since you seek it with sincerity, I shall make an exception—allow you to glimpse the realm beyond Golden Core formation…”

Sima Chengzhen’s eyes lit up with joy; he immediately bowed and thanked him: “Disciple bows in gratitude to Zhenjun!”

Lin Yu smiled and extended his hand: “Come forward.”

Sima Chengzhen hurried forward, his slightly hunched body standing respectfully before Lin Yu.

Lin Yu lowered his gaze, placed his hand upon Sima Chengzhen’s head, and instantly flooded the old Daoist’s entire body with spiritual energy.

In an instant, Sima Chengzhen shuddered, his once-clouded pupils losing clarity—as if his soul had already departed his body.

In truth, it had: from the moment the Zhenjun’s hand touched his crown, Sima Chengzhen’s world transformed, as if he had instantly stepped into an entirely new realm.

It was a wondrous world where essence, qi, and spirit were made manifest.

Essence became jade flowers, qi became gold flowers, spirit became nine flowers—thus, the Three Flowers Converge at the Crown.

The essence and qi of the five viscera interact and transform, gathering in the Yellow Court—thus, the Five Qi Assemble at the Source.

At the pivot of the celestial cycle, a golden, perfectly round elixir floated suspended in midair.

Sima Chengzhen gazed raptly at the Golden Core, instinctively moving closer.

His consciousness surged into the Golden Core, and his perspective finally shifted from within his body to outside it.

Now, he “possessed” the power of the Golden Core—every movement carried immense spiritual force.

A wave of his hand could shatter mountains; a single step could summon clouds and mist.

Soaring through heaven and earth, flying across the four seas, traveling to the Northern Sea by morning and reaching Cangwu by evening—all within a single thought…

Such boundless divine power overwhelmed Sima Chengzhen’s spirit, nearly drowning him in its allure.

Fortunately, Lin Yu noticed his state and withdrew his spiritual energy, softly saying:

“Awaken.”

The voice, not loud at all, struck Sima Chengzhen’s ears like thunderclaps.

In an instant, he snapped back from the illusion of immense power, his mind returning to clarity.

Seeing the look of profound loss on his face, Lin Yu smiled and asked: “Well?”

“Wonderful! Wonderful! Wonderful!”

Sima Chengzhen blurted out three “wonderfuls,” then his expression hardened—he fell to his knees with a thud.

“For decades I have cultivated with unwavering diligence, yet never attained entry. Now, meeting Zhenjun and receiving this Immortal connection, I finally understand what the True Immortal Path truly is!”

“I have no way to repay such grace—only hope Zhenjun, moved by my sincere devotion to the Dao, will permit me to erect your statue. From now on, the Shangqing Tian Tai sect will revere you as supreme, offering daily worship and unceasing incense!”

Hearing Sima Chengzhen’s words, Lin Yu couldn’t help but admire him.

This old Daoist was truly a master of subtlety—he desperately wanted to become Lin Yu’s disciple, yet dared not say so outright; instead, he proposed erecting a statue, indirectly binding his entire sect to Lin Yu through worship.

Too bad, Lin Yu didn’t care about statues.

He had his own plans from the start—no matter what Sima Chengzhen said, the outcome would not change.

After a brief pause, Lin Yu smiled and said: “I am a free Immortal, uninterested in incense offerings. But if you wish to erect a statue, I will not stop you.”

Sima Chengzhen beamed with joy and bowed again in thanks.

Lin Yu shook his head and waved his sleeve, lifting him up.

“No need for such formality. Your realization of the Inner Elixir Path is itself the fulfillment of this Immortal connection—it is fitting that the Inner Elixir Art now emerges into the world!”

“I have already planted a spiritual seed within you—henceforth, you shall transform essence, qi, and spirit into spiritual power…”

Upon hearing this, Sima Chengzhen’s face lit up with ecstatic joy.

But then Lin Yu added calmly: “Don’t celebrate yet. In the illusion just now, you became lost in the power and the false freedom—it means you failed my trial.”

“According to ancient rules, I cannot bestow the Great Dao upon you—only guide you to the threshold.”

“The subsequent Inner Elixir Art must still be deduced by you alone…”

At these words, Sima Chengzhen’s ecstasy vanished, replaced by deep regret and shame.

But he was Sima Chengzhen—in less than ten seconds, he regained his composure, treating this as a new trial, his expression resolute: “Disciple will not fail Zhenjun’s expectations again!”

Lin Yu nodded in approval: “Good!”

(End of Chapter)