Chapter 404: True Person

Half a month later.

Above a five-story palace on Yangrang Mountain.

Looking up, one saw rolling mist surging forth, obscuring an area of over ten li, revealing mottled, star-like colors.

Amidst it, booming roars of dominance thundered, just like a mighty warrior striking a clay drum; who knew how many trees and grasses had been shaken loose from the mountain peaks by such an imposing display.

Yet at this moment, inside the palace, not a single figure could be seen.

Only the images of the Five Qi churned, sank, and floated, filling the entire hall, constantly shifting from void to substance and back from substance to void, fully displaying the marvelous phenomenon of yin and yang revolving.

Deep within the Five Qi, only a single brilliant, round Golden Core hung suspended in mid-air, emitting a warm, bright radiance.

It appeared as an aggregation of wisdom, inexplicably giving one the sensation of being impossible to see clearly or fathom!

Its manner of commanding the four directions and generating the Five Qi was truly incomparably profound!

Before long, a clear whistle suddenly rang out from nowhere.

The hall's five-colored light and qi contracted, all withdrawing back into the Golden Core.

The Golden Core merely spun once in the air, when suddenly seven-colored mist smeared across the ground.

On the apricot-yellow rush cushion, a young Daoist draped in a purple robe had abruptly appeared.

"The various qi have merged into wholeness; the Dao body is bestowed by Heaven... I now understand the wonders of this realm."

Chen Heng closed his eyes to silently comprehend for a moment, then flicked his sleeve and laughed aloud, saying.

Cultivation of the Immortal Dao is a gradual, step-by-step process.

As the saying goes, a nine-story terrace rises from piled earth.

A cultivator must penetrate the heavenly passes and vital acupoints step by step before achieving a state where above and below are illuminated together, and inside and out are both bright; there are no shortcuts whatsoever.

If one speaks of the Qi Refining realm, due to differences in Qi Refining methods, Qi Refiners still faced troubles regarding "Qi Gathering."

Practitioners in this realm must carefully distinguish among the 129,600 types of spiritual qi attributes to find the spiritual qi whose attribute matches their own Qi Refining method.

If one is careless while gathering qi, there is a risk of depleting one's primal truth and suffering from the Five Strains and Seven Injuries...

The ability of the Purple Palace realm to purify spiritual mechanisms within the "inner and outer palaces" of the body greatly facilitates this process of gathering qi and storing spiritual essence, making it easier for all cultivators to inhale and exhale the spiritual mechanisms of heaven and earth and polish their Dao practice.

The Cave-Mystic Realm represents yet another level higher.

As for the Golden Core, it has already reached "the various qi merged into wholeness, the Dao body bestowed by Heaven," which can be regarded as eliminating all troubles concerning "Qi Gathering."

The spiritual mechanisms drawn upon for cultivation in this stage are no longer confined to a single school or household; one can freely drive both clear and turbid forces, swallowing and seizing the myriad transformations!

Within Immortal Dao cultivation, those who reach the Golden Core or Primordial Spirit may be called True Persons, an honorific title inherited from the ancient Court of Ting era.

As for the so-called True Person, they are neither born nor dying, neither empty nor full; they inhale wind and drink dew, riding clouds and commanding dragons.

When moving, they shift mountains and rivers and drive ghosts and spirits.

When still, they hide their form and record their spirit, their mind forgetting all worries.

They can transform their physical form in a thousand and ten thousand ways, they can divine misfortune and fortune, auspiciousness and inauspiciousness, and they can enlighten birds, beasts, and all living beings.

As for projecting the spirit into dreams, nurturing nature to prolong life, and so on, these are merely ordinary matters, as easy as turning over one's hand!

The lifespan of practitioners in this realm has reached a full fifteen hundred years, no longer comparable to ordinary mortals.

If one further masters methods of longevity, using medicines to extend life and numerology to prolong fate, ensuring no internal illnesses arise and no external calamities enter, one's life span can be even longer.

Sitting easily to watch the floating clouds rise and fall in the sky and the various mortal nations rise and fall, carefree and happy, it is no wonder they are addressed by the title "True Person"!

However, for Chen Heng, what he valued most was that after forming the Golden Core, all his true qi had transformed into magic power.

At this time, his own combat strength had increased several-fold; compared to when he was at the Cave-Mystic Third Layer, the difference was not even worth mentioning, like comparing a tiny weasel to a giant elephant.

Comparing the two.

The gap between them was indeed jaw-dropping!

After pondering briefly, Chen Heng moved his divine intent and, in an instant, arrived within the True Dharma Realm, projecting his current mind-image...

【Mahā Victory Secret Light Samādhi】

【Name】: Chen Heng.

【Gong Fa】: Tai Su Yu Shen (Mystic Realm Fourth Layer), Yin Erosion Red Water (Great Completion), Zi Qing Shen Lei (Great Completion), Scattered Scenery Form-Concealing Art (Great Completion), Master Zhou Yuan Secret Turtle Divination Manual (Great Completion), Nine Palaces Guangying Xue Xuan Yi Essence (Great Completion), Luo Dark Black Water (Medium Completion), Nanming Separation Fire (Minor Completion)...

【Dharma Treasures】: Abi Sword (—), Dun Dun Jiesuo (Upper Grade Dharma Tool), Moon Wheel Mirror (Upper Grade Dharma Tool), Five Qi Peng Qian Kun Ring (Upper Grade Dharma Tool), Jade Scenery Flying Palace (Medium Grade Dharma Tool), Zhan Yan Fa Yu (Secret Treasure), Yuanxu Demon-Subduing Sword Register (Secret Treasure), True Proclamation Heavenly Disk (Secret Treasure), Dragon-Trapping Nail (Secret Treasure)...

【True Scriptures】: Five Elements Spirit Platform Secret Essential True Scripture, Fang Jun's Sword Dissolution, Kong Que Book...

【Sword Dao】: Fifth Realm—Sword Qi Thunder Sound, Sword Light Division.

【Dao Practice】: Jin Dan Yi Zhong—Body Root Forming Image (Mystic Central Great Void Natural Origin Opening Scripture Register).

Chen Heng fixed his gaze upon it for a moment, his thoughts turning rapidly in his mind; soon he erased this page of the Mahā golden book along with his mind-image, shifting his divine intent back to the present world.

From the Embryonic Breathing Realm at the very start of cultivation, through Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, and Purple Palace, up to Cave-Mystic.

In Immortal Dao cultivation, every major realm contains subtle subdivisions of minor realms, each possessing its own profundity.

The Golden Core, which lies above Cave-Mystic, is no exception.

The Golden Core consists of three minor realms, namely:

Body Root Forming Image, Gradual Method Nine Returns, and Form Existing Within Spirit.

"Body Root" refers to the foundation of the human body, namely the Three Treasures of Essence, Qi, and Spirit.

These Three Treasures originate from the qi of heaven and earth.

Spirit is received from Heaven, Essence is received from Earth, and Qi is received from the harmony between them.

Anyone who forms a Golden Core possesses all Three Treasures complete, with no leakage or exposure.

As for the cultivation of this first minor realm, "Body Root Forming Image," there is no special trick; one simply needs to continuously ingest the spiritual mechanisms of heaven and earth, and once one's own core power has grown to its utmost limit, one can naturally break through the barrier and successfully advance to the next minor realm.

Though this step sounds simple, for most True Persons in the world, carrying it out indeed requires considerable effort.

Because elixirs are divided into nine grades, the hierarchy is strict—

Although a Jin Dan True Person has already achieved "the convergence of all qi, a body bestowed by the Dao," and is thus freed from the worry of gathering qi,

if one relies solely on sitting in meditation and bitter cultivation to incrementally increase elixir power, that would undoubtedly be a slow, grinding effort...

Not to mention the hardships involved; even if one ultimately succeeds, most of one's lifespan will have been consumed.

If a cultivator is fortunate enough to form an elixir only in old age, they are likely to sit in meditation and pass away halfway through, let alone speak of any future Great Dao.

For this reason, as a rare type in the world capable of boosting a cultivator's elixir power without hidden dangers, "Zhengyang Zhen Sha" is naturally deeply sought after, having once stirred up countless storms because of it.

However, given Chen Heng's current Dan Pin, he is not overly concerned about this Zhengyang Dan Sha needed for his future cultivation.

Not to mention what might happen after taking a master.

Simply by virtue of his First Grade Jin Dan, the sect will naturally tilt its cultivation resources toward him, cultivating him vigorously, just like the previous story of Jun Yao.

All he needs to do is cultivate peacefully; there is no need to worry excessively about external matters...

And when his elixir power becomes perfect and he breaks through the first realm, it will be the Jin Dan Er Chong stage of "Gradual Method Nine Returns."

As for the key principle of this realm, it involves taking the five-element qi of the golden elixir, moving the essence of the three essentials, to determine the origin of a single entity.

"Return" means returning to the source; it is the deep excavation of the innate nature of one's own Dao body.

First return to the kidneys, second to the heart, third to the liver, fourth to the lungs, fifth to the spleen, sixth to the elixir chamber, seventh to the qi household, eighth to the essence chamber, ninth to the spirit chamber.

These "Nine Returns" are both the tempering of the body's firing process and the work of refining void.

As for the final Jin Dan San Chong stage, "Form within Spirit," it requires the cultivator to unite Heaven and Earth to forge an inner landscape.

This "inner landscape" is the pivotal mechanism for achieving the Primordial Spirit Dharma Aspect, also known as the "Small Dharma Image," and is of utmost importance.

Body Root Forming Image, Gradual Method Nine Returns, Form within Spirit...

These are the three minor realms of Jin Dan cultivation.

And after the Jin Dan, if one shatters the twelve heavy barriers of the Primordial Spirit, penetrates the mystery of returning to void, and survives the three disasters of Pure Yang, one achieves the Union of Dao through Nine Tribulations.

After the Nine Tribulations, immortal karma naturally manifests; from then on, one's longevity equals that of Heaven, one leaps out of the gates of life and death, and joyfully attains immortality and eternal youth!

To ascend the heavenly steps with a human body, to peer into the infinite through the finite—this is precisely what it means!

After pondering this in his mind for a moment, Chen Heng slowly retracted his surging magic power and smiled slightly.

He rose from the apricot-yellow rush cushion and walked outward.

On the day his elixir formation succeeded, under the leadership of Fuchan Fuchan Laozu, he had also gone to pay respects to Daoist Lord Fu Yu of the Great Talisman Palace, witnessing the countenance of this great master of supernatural powers with his own eyes.

And because it would be improper to go against this Daoist Lord's kind intentions, Chen Heng did not rush back to the Xiaoming Great Marsh, but instead lingered in the Yangrang Mountains for a few days to familiarize himself with his newly acquired Fa Li Jing Zhi Jie.

However, now that a full fifteen days have passed, he has polished his own Dao conduct until it is perfectly smooth and compliant, able to release and gather his magic power at will.

Staying longer holds no meaning; it is time to request permission to depart...

"My previous Dao arts, such as the Innate Great Sun Divine Light, the Sishan Dueling Art, and the like, are no longer suitable for me.

As for the lower scroll of the Zi Qing Shen Lei, the Divine Water and Divine Fire, the Six Realms of the Sword Dao, and the Five Old Celestial Officials' Da Shou Yin and other immortal divine powers... these are all methods to protect my Dao after forming the Jin Dan, and I must find a time to cultivate them properly.

Furthermore, according to sect rules, those who achieve a First Grade Elixir may choose one from the sect's Twenty-Five Zheng Fa to cultivate.

However, I already possess the 'Mysterious Central Great Void Natural Opening Origin Scripture and Register,' so I lack no fundamental cultivation method; thus, this opportunity..."

Chen Heng's thoughts turned, and after passing through the gate, his field of vision revealed ten thousand acres of clear light, resembling a giant tide in the sea shimmering and floating, dazzling and bewildering.

Occasionally, a crane's cry issued from beyond the nine heavens, immediately provoking a response from the myriad mountains, with echoes lingering for a long time, extremely pleasant to the ear.

Just as Chen Heng was about to take out the Dun Dun Jiesuo to teleport far away, suddenly a sound of wind surged forth from ahead, roaring loudly, surging like a tidal wave rushing in.

Chen Heng paused to admire it for a moment, then straightened his clothes, cap, and robes.

Just as he was about to go pay respects and request leave, the moment he moved his foot, the scenery before his eyes suddenly changed.

By the time he stabilized his form again, he had arrived in a towering Shi Lin not far from the foot of Yangrang Mountain, having entered another territory.

"No need for excessive courtesy; go, go, do not let that old friend of mine wait anxiously."

Daoist Lord Fu Yu's voice came from afar, laughing:

"Chen Heng, we shall meet again in the future; at the Dan Yuan Assembly, I shall see your supernatural powers!"

Chen Heng dared not be negligent; facing the direction of the Great Talisman Palace, he bowed with a solemn kowtow to show his seriousness.

And when he raised his eyes again, the world before him was already silent, with no sound coming forth.

"Old friend..."

Chen Heng lowered his eyelids to hide the light in his eyes, thinking silently:

"The Dan Yuan Assembly?"

Floating clouds rolled high, like piles of snow, crystal clear and bright white, swaying and drifting with the great wind, gathering and scattering at times, changing and vanishing without constancy.

On a peak of Yangrang Mountain.

Seeing Daoist Lord Fu Yu withdraw his gaze, the monk Dao Qing shook his head, threw the half-eaten red fruit back onto the plate, wiped his mouth, and said:

"A First Grade Elixir achievement in orthodox immortal Dao is not very common; barring accidents, he should be the champion of your next Dan Yuan Assembly? Your Xue Xuan Gate seems to have won the last few sessions; if you win this one too, and it is Yu Yu Yuchen winning again, won't the Xiantianmo Sect lose face?"

"The struggle between Xue Xuan and Mo is not something so superficial."

Daoist Lord Fu Yu did not answer directly, only turning his eyes to stare at the monk Dao Qing.

It was not until the monk felt awkward and lowered his head to scratch his face that he withdrew his gaze and sincerely advised:

"Monk, there is no need to beat around the bush or hint indirectly anymore.

The Dan Yuan Assembly is the top priority of Xu Du Heaven; like the Gang Qi Layer, the Bottomless Mountain, and that great River Map Gap King Puppet in Northern Moyu Moyu Luzhou, it allows no outsider to pry even a fraction, a covenant signed jointly by the Bapailiu Sect back then.

I know you are curious in your heart and wish to probe the true foundations of the Dan Yuan Assembly, but it is better to discard such thoughts as soon as possible."

The monk Dao Qing had his thoughts exposed by his single remark; though somewhat regretful, he ultimately understood the gravity of the matter, merely sighing slowly and nodding helplessly.

"After so many years, your Bapailiu Sect has truly become increasingly terrifying and awe-inspiring..."

The monk Daoqing muttered to himself, drew a small box from his sleeve, and said:

"You old fellow, after all these years of friendship, you won't even save me some face? Take it!"

Daojun Daojun Fu Yu took it and looked; inside the box was precisely the Round-Method Great Dharma Pill that Chen Chen Xiangxian had sought, causing his white eyebrows to lift slightly.

"What is this?" he asked.

"Another edict has arrived from the Dharma Saint Heaven; in a few days' time, I fear I must go to meet Xia Ji and can no longer hide here in leisure."

Monk Daoqing shook his head: "The Round-Method Great Dharma Pill is not easy to refine; even with my abilities, it takes at least several hundred years of effort... Fortunately, I still have one leftover. Seeing that the gratitude gifts Chen Chen Xiangxian brought are generous, and for the sake of your face, old fellow, I will let him have this one from my hand first."

"Are you truly going to wade into these muddy waters of the Dharma Saint Heaven?" Daojun Daojun Fu Yu frowned.

"Having received the grace of having my life saved, I have no choice but to go; ultimately, one must still care about face..."

Daojun Daojun Fu Yu had intended to say something, but the words reached his lips, and he remained silent.

After pondering for a moment, he suddenly spoke to Monk Daoqing with a solemn voice:

"Although our factions are currently at odds, Xia Ji is indeed a mighty ruler of the world; with your attainments in the Dao of Pills, I imagine Xia Ji will not send you to charge at the front lines. Since you are determined to go to the Dharma Saint Heaven, do not easily reveal yourself when the time comes; I will speak with people from the Profound and Demonic sides, and furthermore..."

"Why worry so excessively? Whether a fight will even break out is still up for debate; how long have the Dharma Saint Heaven and the various universes been in standoff? Have you seen either side truly ignite in anger? If, when the time comes, Fuchan Fuchan Laozu is willing to personally step in to mediate, perhaps this great matter can be reduced to a small one, and the small one resolved entirely."

Monk Daoqing interrupted with a chuckle.

Hearing this, Daojun Daojun Fu Yu fell silent, merely shaking his head slightly.

"Seeing you like this, it seems the Great Talisman Palace truly intends to get involved as well?"

Seeing his old friend behave in such a manner, Monk Daoqing felt a slight chill in his heart and hurriedly asked.

"If you ask about the Pill Yuan Grand Assembly or the layers of Qi, bound by the Dharma Oath, I cannot speak openly; but regarding this matter, I can share the bottom line with you."

Daojun Daojun Fu Yu's white eyebrows twitched.

On his face, usually amiable and kind, not a trace of a smile remained now; his gaze was Heavy and solemn, pressing and aggressive:

"If the object in Xia Ji's hands is truly that heavy treasure from the former Dao Court, let alone Fuchan Fuchan Laozu stepping in.

Even if Tai Su Zhangren, the Fire Dragon Master, Tianmenzi, Duke Shangluo, Great Profound Venerable Yuanmu, Lady Zhengxu of the Ji clan—these former departments of the Dao Court—put aside past grievances, emptied their nests, and all came to aid Fuchan Fuchan Laozu, it would still be impossible to reduce this great matter to a small one and resolve the small one entirely!

In the struggle for the Great Dao, even if we perish and our Dao is extinguished, we must inevitably engage them in battle!"

Monk Daoqing's throat moved, and an involuntary chill arose in his heart: "But the Great Talisman Palace has always been pure in its Dao; even if the New Heaven rules in the future—"

"If that great scheme of the former Dao Court back then had truly succeeded, would the Great Talisman Palace have received clemency beyond the law?"

This time it was Fuchan Fuchan Laozu who interrupted coldly, speaking with ironclad certainty:

"Beneath the Kalpa, who can remain untouched?!"

Monk Daoqing's lips twitched, his face showing an expression of bitterness.

After a long while, he sighed regretfully, shook his head, and pressed his palms together, sighing lightly:

"Once this great tribulation begins, with earth, water, fire, and wind falling into disorder before our eyes, how many more universes will shatter, and heavens and earth sink into ruin?

One can only sigh that fate is vast and misty, fate is vast and misty, ah..."

At the same time.

At the foot of Yangrang Mountain, in that Shi Lin.

Just as Chen Heng was about to take out the Dun Dun Jiesuo to teleport far away, suddenly a sound of wind surged forth from ahead, roaring loudly, surging like a tidal wave rushing in.

He raised his eyes to look; he did not yet see the person, but first heard their voice.

"Chen Heng, please stay your steps."

The person above the clouds wore a smile, paused slightly, and then added:

"And the Dun Dun Jiesuo; truly, it has been a long time since I last saw one..."

(End of Chapter)

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