Chapter 260: Reach out your hand and let me see

Xu Xin still wanted to say something, but seeing that detached and otherworldly air of Lin Xuan, the words on the tip of his tongue were swallowed back down. Perhaps it was precisely this untainted temperament that was the true demeanor of a master.

Early the next morning, just as the morning sun rose, Wang Ye found Lin Xuan without being able to wait a moment longer. Having seen the changes in Xu Xin last night, he could no longer restrain himself.

"Lin Daozhang," Wang Ye said with anticipation in his eyes, "I saw the progress of Brother Xu Xin. I wonder if I might ask for your guidance as well?"

Lin Xuan glanced at him: "Reach out your hand."

Wang Ye followed his instructions, and felt a gentle force seep into his body, beginning to regulate his meridians. It felt as if a pair of invisible hands were helping him comb through his channels, and every blockage was being gently cleared.

"Your problem lies in the fact that the movement of your Qi is too fierce," Lin Xuan's voice sounded in his ear. "Cultivation is like brewing tea; the heat must be just right. Impatience will only spoil things. Try to circulate it along the path I describe; it should be like a spring breeze bringing life, not like a mountain torrent erupting."

Wang Ye closed his eyes and attempted to follow Lin Xuan's guidance. Soon, he felt an unprecedented sense of ease. The Qi within his body no longer rampaged as it had before, but became harmonious and fluid, every cycle filled with rhythm.

"This... this feeling is too marvelous!" Wang Ye opened his eyes, his face full of surprise. "Lin Daozhang, you truly are a master! No wonder Brother Xu Xin said that a casual pointer from you could make one benefit immensely."

Just as he was speaking, Zhuge Qing also hurried over. Seeing the expression on Wang Ye's face, how could he hold back? He also stepped forward to request Lin Xuan's guidance.

Lin Xuan remained as calm and composed as ever, but every piece of advice hit the mark. In just a few short sentences, he gave Zhuge Qing a brand-new understanding of his own cultivation.

"He is indeed a benefactor," Xiao Bai stood to the side, watching this scene, and couldn't help but exclaim, "To be able to enlighten others with a mere gesture—this is the true Great Dao."

"Benefactor," Xiao Qing asked with some worry, "By guiding them like this, will it expose too much?"

A profound light flashed in Lin Xuan's eyes: "It is of no concern. Now, it is time to fully integrate the power of the Dan Shi."

Having said this, he walked to the center of the canyon and sat cross-legged. A powerful aura radiated from him, beginning to draw in the surrounding Heaven and Earth Origin Qi. Everyone could feel the energy in the air becoming active; even the act of breathing felt different.

"This is..." Tang Miaoxing widened his eyes, his voice filled with unconcealable shock. "Is he going to integrate the mysteries of the Dan Shi into his own meridians? This... this is simply unheard of!"

No one answered his question, for everyone was stunned by the scene before them. Lin Xuan's body began to emit a faint glow, and the surrounding air distorted due to the energy fluctuations. Streams of powerful Qi swirled around his body, forming a mysterious pattern. That pattern would at times turn into nine flood dragons soaring, and at others transform into the flow of ten thousand stars, beautiful enough to take one's breath away.

This process lasted for a full hour. During this time, no one dared to disturb him, and even Xiao Qing and Xiao Bai maintained absolute silence. They both knew this was a critical moment. The slightest mistake could result in all previous efforts being wasted.

Finally, Lin Xuan opened his eyes, a hint of satisfaction in his gaze: "It is done."

Two simple words, yet they made everyone present feel an unprecedented pressure. Especially the disciples of the Tang Sect; they clearly felt that the aura on Lin Xuan had completely changed. It was a deeper, more profound power, as if it had fused with some ultimate truth of heaven and earth.

"Congratulations, Benefactor." Xiao Qing and Xiao Bai bowed in unison; they could feel that their benefactor's realm had ascended to another level.

Lin Xuan stood up and looked into the distance. After fusing the power of the Dan Shi, his understanding of Daoist methods had advanced further. But this was still far from enough; the true Great Dao was still waiting for him ahead.

At this moment, a bright moon hung high above the Tang Sect. A gentle breeze blew, bringing with it a faint scent of medicine. No one knew that on this seemingly ordinary night, a master capable of changing the entire landscape of the Outsider world had taken another step toward a higher realm. And all of this was perhaps only the beginning of a much larger scheme.

The midday sun poured down unsparingly; even in a place as lush with trees as the Tang Sect, one could feel the heat of summer. Inside a pavilion, Lin Xuan was tasting a pot of Oolong, the tea's aroma tinged with the bitterness of medicinal herbs. Xiao Qing and Xiao Bai were to the side organizing various rare herbs, their movements gentle and skillful, for fear of disturbing the Spirit Qi contained within the herbs.

Suddenly, a burst of hurried footsteps broke the tranquility. Tang Miaoxing walked quickly into the pavilion, fine beads of sweat already on his forehead, the hem of his Daoist Robe stained with dew; he had clearly rushed over after passing through several medicinal gardens.

"Lin Daozhang." Tang Miaoxing's bowing motion was extremely respectful, his voice filled with unconcealable anticipation. "I have always wanted to ask for your instruction regarding the mysteries of the Dan Shi. I know this timing may not be appropriate, but..."

Lin Xuan sipped his tea; the temperature was just right, and he could feel every bit of Spirit Qi contained within it. He looked at Tang Miaoxing with a calm gaze: "Sect Leader Tang, why should I tell you?"

This direct counter-question caught Tang Miaoxing off guard. He had prepared a whole host of arguments to persuade Lin Xuan to share more of the mysteries of the Dan Dao, but faced with this simple question, he found himself at a loss for how to answer.

"Lin Daozhang," he said, weighing his words, "My Tang Sect has passed down the Dan Dao for generations. Although we have achieved something over the years, compared to the ancient times, we pale in comparison. If we could receive your guidance, it would surely allow the Dan Dao to regain its former glory. This would be a good thing for the entire Outsider world."

"I have already told you quite a bit." Lin Xuan's voice remained flat, but every word carried an unquestionable majesty. "Stop when it is enough; know when to quit. Greed leads to indigestion—Sect Leader Tang, you surely understand this principle? Or is it that you think you have already fully mastered what I said before?"

Tang Miaoxing's expression turned ugly in an instant. It was true; he had not yet fully digested Lin Xuan's previous guidance, and wanting to know more now was indeed a bit greedy. But the temptation of the Dan Dao was simply too great for him to let go of so easily.

"In that case, I shall not disturb you further, Lin Daozhang." Tang Miaoxing suppressed the disappointment and unwillingness in his heart and turned to leave. His back looked somewhat desolate; clearly, this blow was not small for him.

Just then, Lin Xuan's gaze suddenly turned sharp. In the bushes not far from the pavilion, several dark shadows were moving stealthily. Had his perception not been so keen, he would never have discovered the presence of these people. Their auras were very peculiar, carrying a sense of being from foreign lands.